Lab _______ Circular Motion Simulation Lab
Gemini Physics-Caiazza Name_________________________
Period ________________________
Run Ladybug Revolution Sim
( http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.php?sim=Ladybug_Revolution )
Open Intro tab
1. Experiment with changing the location of the ladybug and beetle on the wheel. Give the
bugs an angular velocity of 180 degrees/sec. What do you think angular velocity is?
2. How do you think position relative to the center of the wheel will affect the angular
velocity (ω) of the bug?
3. Experiment with changing the location of the ladybug and beetle on the wheel. How do
you predict the position relative to the center of the wheel will affect the tangential
velocity (VT)?
4. What other factor(s) affect the velocity of the bugs?
Now Try this:
1. Set the angular velocity to 90°/sec
2. Hit play and notice the size of the green velocity vector and pink acceleration vector.
3. Reset, and move the ladybug to the very edge of the platform.
4. Set the angular velocity back to 90°/sec
5. What happens to the velocity vector? _________________________________________
What happens to the acceleration vector? ______________________________________
6. Use the ruler to determine the distance of the ladybug to the axis of rotation. (Assume
each numbered division is a cm, not a meter). r = ___________
7. Calculate the tangential speed v = ωr (be careful of angle units):
8. Calculate the radial or centripetal acceleration:
9. What is the tangential acceleration
Open Rotation tab
10. Set the angular velocity = 90°/sec.
11. Sketch the graph of the Angle, and the graph of Angular Velocity. (Don’t worry about
numbers, just give the shape of the graph)
12. Reset all
13. Click the third option down on the right under “Show graphs” (θ, ω, v)
14. On the Velocity graph, click all three boxes: Show speed, show X - Vel, show Y - Vel
15. Set the angular velocity = 90°/sec.
16. Graph all three lines in the velocity graph at 5 seconds
17. What relationship can you make about the red, blue, and green lines? (Stop at any point
and use the given numbers to verify your answer).
18. Reset all
19. Click the second option down on the right under “Show graphs” (θ, ω, α)
20. Set the angular acceleration = 30°/sec2.
21. Sketch the graph of the Angle, Angular Velocity, and Angular Acceleration (Don’t worry
about numbers, just give the shape of the graph)
22. Reset all
23. Click the fourth option down on the right under “Show graphs” (θ, ω, a). Check “Show
Acceleration.”
24. Set the angular velocity = 90°/sec.
25. Why does the acceleration remain constant despite the changing direction of the ladybug?
