Centrifugal Effect

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Subject:

Science and Technology

Institution Name:

Davidson College

Collection:

Davidson College

Grade Level:

Secondary, Post-secondary

Abstract:

This simulation represents the case of an object sliding frictionless over the surface of a flat disk that is rotating. I will call the object 'the puck', as in ice hockey. The 'Distance' in the simulation is the distance to the disk's rotation axis. The 'Velocity' is relative to the disk; 0.3 velocity means that at the instant of being launched the puck's velocity relative to the disk is 30% of its co-rotating velocity at that particular distance to the rotation axis. That is, close to the rotation axis 0.3 represents a slower velocity than close to the disk's rim.

The disk supports the weight of the puck, but since there is no friction the rotation of the disk does not affect the motion of the puck. So there's no dynamics going on; there is no exchange of momentum, no change of kinetic energy.

Course Type:

Learning Module

Material Type:

Simulations

Media Format:

Graphics/Photos, Text/HTML

Conditions of Use:

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5