Work through the list without notes. If you cannot do a statement, follow its link, then come back. Guide = study guide; Practice = practice questions.
Understanding
- I can explain why an object moving in a circle at constant speed is accelerating, and say which way the acceleration points. (Guide: “Why moving in a circle is accelerated motion”; Figure 1(a))
- I can explain that real forces or their components supply the net inward force, with no separate “centripetal force” arrow. (Guide: “Where does the inward force come from?”)
- I can tell centripetal acceleration (changes direction) apart from tangential acceleration (changes speed). (Guide: Figure 1(b); Practice Q3)
- I can explain why gravity alone provides the inward force at the top of a loop at the minimum speed, and in a circular orbit. (Guide: Worked example 2; Practice Q4, Q7)
Skills
- I can calculate a_c = v²/r, and convert between period, frequency and speed with T = 1/f and T = 2πr/v. (Guide: “Period and frequency”; Practice Q1)
- I can find the net acceleration of an object that is speeding up or slowing down on a circle. (Guide: “Tangential acceleration and the net acceleration”)
- I can apply Newton’s second law towards the centre at the top of a loop or a hump, and find the minimum or maximum speed. (Guide: Worked example 2; Practice Q4)
- I can find the no-friction speed or bank angle for a banked curve, and the tension and period of a conical pendulum. (Guide: Worked examples 1 and 3; Practice Q5)
- I can derive T² = (4π²/GM) r³ for a circular orbit and use it to find a central mass or compare two orbits. (Guide: “Circular orbits and Kepler’s third law”; Practice Q2, Q7)
- I can choose a linear graph (such as F against v²) to test a circular-motion relationship and use its slope. (Practice Q6)
Reasoning
- I can predict how a_c or T changes when speed, radius or period changes, and say which quantity is being held constant. (Guide: “Period and frequency”; Practice Q2, Q5(c))
- I can describe the direction of static friction on a banked curve when a vehicle goes faster or slower than the design speed. (Guide: “Banked curves”; Practice Q5(b))
- I can argue that an orbiting object’s period does not depend on its own mass. (Practice Q7)
All ticked? Move on to Topic 3.1, Translational Kinetic Energy, or return to the course roadmap.