Teacher Demonstration
Use the live model as a shared screen demonstration before students try their own predictions and observations.
Physics / Newtonian Mechanics
Ferris Wheel
Explore Ferris Wheel as an interactive EJS simulation for mechanics.
1. Watch or Launch
Launch the Interactive
Open the simulation, adjust the controls, and compare what changes on screen before answering the concept-check questions.
2. Big Ideas
Key idea Circular motion requires a resultant force toward the centre. Even at constant speed, velocity changes direction, so the object has centripetal acceleration.
What Students Can Learn
- Distinguish speed from velocity direction.
- Identify centripetal acceleration toward the centre.
- Relate greater speed or smaller radius to greater centripetal force.
- Use tangent velocity and inward acceleration arrows together.
Guiding Question
If the speed is constant, what is changing, and where must the acceleration point?
3. Try the Investigation
Locate the Centre
Identify the centre of the circular path.
Draw Directions
Compare tangent velocity with inward acceleration.
Change Speed or Radius
Observe how the required force or acceleration changes.
Explain the Motion
Use changing velocity direction to explain centripetal acceleration.
4. Teacher Notes
Lesson Use
Use this to address the misconception that constant speed means zero acceleration. Direction is the important change.
Discussion Prompts
Ask: Where does the resultant force point? What would happen if the inward force vanished? How does radius affect force demand?
Teaching Moves
Have students draw arrows at three positions around the circle before calculating.
5. Concept Check
These questions are generated from the topic and the concept illustrated by the simulation. Use them after students have explored the model.
Concept Score
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Answer each question once to build your streak.
1. Where does centripetal acceleration point?
2. Why is there acceleration at constant speed?
3. What happens to required centripetal force when speed increases at the same radius?
4. What is the instantaneous velocity direction?
5. What would happen if the inward force disappeared?
7. Learning Pulse
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