Lesson 10 of 12 · Kinematics

Experiment⭐ 30 XP

Uniform Circular Motion

🧪Lab Brief #10

Kinematics.

🎯 Your mission

Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.

⚡ The twist

Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.

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Mind = Blown

🔬 The more you look, the more nature shows you.

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Make a hypothesis first

Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.

What You'll Learn

An object moving in a circle at constant speed is still accelerating, because its direction changes continuously. That acceleration points to the centre and is v²/r, and it requires a centre-directed force — tension, friction or gravity.

Key Words

Tap a word to see its definition.

Materials Needed

rubber bung
strong string
stopwatch
plastic tube

Safety First

Do this outdoors or in a large clear space, well away from people and windows.
Check the string for fraying before every trial and wear eye protection.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Read the explanation above and note the two key terms before you start.

Step 2 — Do

Whirl a rubber bung on a string in a horizontal circle and time twenty revolutions to find the period. Change the radius and repeat. Show that a shorter radius at the same speed needs a noticeably harder pull.

Step 3 — Observe

Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.

Step 4 — Record

Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 2

An object in uniform circular motion has:

How sure are you going to be?😐 maybe

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Where you see this in real life

This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.

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Stretch Challenge

Try this in real life this week.

Try one experiment in real life this week — even a tiny one.

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For the dinner table

“What's the most surprising thing you learned today?”

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Next Smart Experiment

We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.

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