Ladybug Revolution Virtual Lab
10/24/2012
Part One:
- 5. Play around with the simulation to see if you can determine if anything else affects the velocity and how. Determine a mathematical relationship for velocity: The Velocity is affected by both ω (angular velocity) and r (radius). As ω or r increase, the velocity increases, and as they decrease, the velocity decreases. v = ω.r, The velocity is oriented along the tangent to the curved path.)
- 6. Place the ladybug at 1.5 m and set ω to b 3 rad/s. Predict what the velocity would be and then run the simulation to check your prediction. Are you correct? 1.5*3= 4.5, based on the equation, I predicted the velocity to be 4.5, which was correct.
- 9. As the ladybug undergoes angular acceleration, change its distance from the center and describe how the acceleration vector changes. What do you think is the mathematical relationship between angular acceleration, radius, and acceleration? Acceleration vector decreases as the radius increases, and it increases as the radius decreases. Equation: (aT: Tangent to the circle)
- 14. Write a formula for the final angular velocity ωf an object will rotate when it starts at an initial angular velocity of ωi and an angular acceleration α and rotates for a certain timeinterval Δt.
Part Two:
- 10. Do you notice any relation between the velocity^2, radius, and acceleration? Acceleration increases as velocity increases, and it decreases as velocity decreases. As radius increases, acceleration decreases, and as it decreases, acceleration increases. So a = v^2/ r
- 12. In linear motion, when you have a constant acceleration, how does this affect the velocity? Is this different from circular motion? Explain.
Reflection: This lab was very helpful for me because I was able to learn and understand the equations that we had learned by deriving them based on what I had seen. I also learned why we use these equations and why they are true!