5.2 Force Needed for Circular Motion Centripetal Force |
| Instructions: Click on the "Start Simulation" button to start the applet. You may change the parameters of the simulation by positioning the mouse cursor over the black ball, clicking the left mouse button and dragging up or down. You will find that the angular velocity w as well as the radius of rotation of the red ball change. The simulation adjusts all needed parameters as required. You can read the new parameters of the text boxes on the top of the applet. M represents the mass of the black ball, m the mass of the red sphere, g the acceleration due to gravity and r the radius of rotation. Navigation: You can come back to this window by pressing the "Close Simulation" button on the bottom frame of the utility. |
| Explanation: As discussed in chapter 5 section 2, to move in a circle at a constant speed a mass is subject to a centripetal force. In the case of the red ball, the centripetal force is provided by the tension of the string. When the black sphere is in equilibrium the tension of the string is equal to the weight of the black sphere. By writing this down, and using equation 5.8, a relationship between the quantities measured by the simulation can be found. This applet will be revisited in chapter 9 when discussing angular momentum. |
| Source: Fu-Kwun Hwang Go to the web site and link to the Online Library for further information. |