Circular Motion
Forces and Motion

Episode 223: Preparation for circular motion topic

Teaching Guidance for 16-19 IOP TAP

There are several demonstrations in this topic which can add a lot to the interest of the subject. It is useful to practise them in advance, to avoid embarrassing failures in front of the students.

A useful source of material is Multimedia Motion II, from Cambridge Science Media. This CD-ROM contains many excellent video clips of motion including that showing an object moving in a horizontal and vertical circle. The position, velocity and acceleration of the object can be analysed.

Main aims of this topic

Circular motion

Students will:

  • Describe qualitatively motion in a curved path due to a perpendicular force, and understand the centripetal acceleration in the case of uniform motion in a circle
  • Express angular displacement in radians
  • Recall and use centripetal acceleration a = v 2r
  • Apply the equation a = Fm to uniform motion in a circle to derive F = mv 2r

Prior knowledge

Students should be familiar with the equations of linear motion, and Newton's laws of motion.

Where this leads

Circular motion crops up in many different situations, and students will need to be able to apply the equations for centripetal force and acceleration. For example:

  • masses orbiting under gravity
  • charged particles moving in uniform magnetic fields
  • charged particles moving in radial electric fields
Circular Motion
can be analysed using the quantity Centripetal Acceleration
can be described by the relation F=m(v^2)/R
IOP AWARDS 2025

Teachers of Physics Awards

The Teachers of Physics Award celebrates the success of secondary school physics teachers who have raised the profile of physics and science in schools. Nominations for 2025 are now open.

Start your nomination now