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Science · Grade 11

Circular Motion and Gravitation

Learners show that an object moving in a circle at constant speed is accelerating toward the centre (a = v²/r) and identify the real forces that supply that centripetal force on roads, strings and loops. They then use Newton's law of universal gravitation and the inverse-square relationship to calculate forces and field strengths, model circular orbits, explain apparent weightlessness, and linearise planetary data to confirm Kepler's third law and even estimate Earth's mass.

  • 5 lessons
  • About 125 minutes
  • Circular motion and gravitation check: 10 questions
  • Ways to answer: choose an answer, estimate, draw a graph, match pairs, type a number and put in order
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What learners will discover

  • Describe uniform circular motion with period, speed (v = 2πr/T) and centripetal acceleration (a = v²/r directed toward the centre), and predict the path of an object released from a circle.
  • Identify the real forces that provide the centripetal force (friction, tension, gravity, normal force) and apply ΣF~toward centre~ = mv²/r to curves, strings and vertical loops.
  • Use Newton's law of universal gravitation, F = Gm~1~m~2~/r², and gravitational field strength, g = GM/r², including inverse-square proportional reasoning.
  • Model circular orbits (v = √(GM/r), T = 2πr/v), explain apparent weightlessness as free fall, and use T² ∝ r³ to analyse orbital data.

Lessons

  1. Uniform circular motion 9 steps5 practiceabout 22 min
  2. What provides the centripetal force? 10 steps6 practiceabout 26 min
  3. Newton's law of universal gravitation 9 steps5 practiceabout 25 min
  4. Orbits and apparent weightlessness 8 steps6 practiceabout 25 min
  5. Kepler's third law from data 8 steps5 practiceabout 22 min
  6. Circular motion and gravitation check 10 questions at the end

Keep exploring

More 11th grade science

Guide for grown-ups