Title of Unit
Curriculum Area
Developed By
Rotational & Circular Kinematics &
Dynamics
Regular Physics
Shelly Gould Burgess
Grade Level
11 & 12
Time Frame
2 – 3 weeks
Identify Desired Results (Stage 1)
Content Standards
By the end of the unit, students will be able to…
1. distinguish between circular (“translational;” “tangential”) and rotational motion.
2. perform measurements and calculations involving period and frequency of rotating objects and objects moving in circular
motion.
3. distinguish between angular displacement, angular speed, and angular acceleration.
4. analyze and calculate torque and net torque.
5. assess qualitatively and mathematically the conditions under which rotational equilibrium occur.
6. analyze moment of inertia for objects with varying mass distribution.
7. analyze the tangential velocity of a body.
8. analyze the centripetal acceleration of a body when tangential speed is constant.
9. use Newton’s second law to calculate centripetal force of an object moving with uniform circular motion.
10. determine that radius of revolution affects tangential speed, thereby affecting the magnitude of centripetal acceleration,
which, in turn, affects the magnitude of centripetal force.
11. determine the gravitational force exerted between two masses.
Understandings
Essential Questions
Overarching Understanding
Students will understand the nature circular motion.
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Related Misconceptions
Circular and rotational motions are the same thing.
There is an outward “centrifugal” force acting on
objects that travel in a circular path.
Torque is rotational force.
Overarching
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What is circular motion?
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How do we assess and measure
rotational motion?
Topical
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What creates changes in
rotational motion?
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How do we assess and measure
circular motion?
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What is Newton’s Universal Law
of Gravitation?
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How do circular motion and rotational motion
differ?
What is a rotational axis?
How do we measure and assess angular
speed and angular acceleration?
What causes angular acceleration?
How do we measure and assess period and
frequency?
How does torque create change in rotational
state?
What factors affect torque?
What are the requirements for rotational
equilibrium?
What is moment of inertia?
How does mass distribution affect moment of
inertia?
What is angular momentum?
When net torques are balanced, what is the
relationship between moment of inertia and
angular momentum?
How do we measure and assess tangential
velocity?
What is the direction of tangential velocity?
How do we measure and assess centripetal
acceleration?
How do we measure and assess centripetal
force?
How does inertia relate to objects traveling in
circular motion?
How do we assess and calculate gravitational
force between two masses?
Knowledge
Skills
Students will know…
Students will be able to…
 what is circular motion?
 distinguish between circular and rotational motions.
 what is rotational motion?
 calculate and measure period and frequency.
 what are period and frequency?
 assess angular motion in terms of angular speed and angular
 what is angular speed?
acceleration.
 what is angular acceleration?
 perform calculations involving torque and rotational equilibrium.
 what is torque?
 perform calculations involving moment of inertia.
 what is rotational equilibrium?
 assess and calculate circular motion in terms of tangential velocity,
 what is moment of inertia?
centripetal acceleration, and centripetal force.
 assess and calculate the gravitational attraction between two objects.
 what is angular momentum?
 when is angular momentum conserved?
 what is a tangent?
 what is tangential velocity?
 what is centripetal acceleration?
 what is centripetal force?
 what is Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation?
From: Wiggins, Grant and J. Mc Tighe. (1998). Understanding by Design, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development ISBN # 0-87120-313-8
(ppk)
Lesson 1
I. Objectives: Students will be able to…
 distinguish between circular (“translational;” “tangential”) and rotational motion.
 perform measurements and calculations involving period and frequency.
 distinguish between angular displacement, angular speed, and angular acceleration.
II. Materials: Classroom set of computers with Activstudio
III. Procedure:
A. Class discussion of pages 1 & 2 of notes.
B. Notes: pages 3-5
C. Practice: Frequency and period practice sheet
D. Notes: page 6
E. ActivExpressions: page 7
IV. Evaluation: Evidence of flipchart work, homework, portfolio
Lesson 2
I. Objectives: Students will be able to…
 analyze and calculate torque.
 asses qualitatively and mathematically the conditions under which rotational equilibrium occur.
II. Materials: Classroom set of computers with Activstudio; per lab
III. Procedure:
A. Notes: page 8-10
B. ActivExpressions: page 11
C. Lab: Mobiles
IV. Evaluation: Homework 2, evidence of flipchart work, authentic demonstration, quiz, portfolio
Lesson 3
I. Objectives: Students will be able to…
 analyze and calculate moment of inertia.
 analyze angular momentum.
 asses qualitatively angular momentum and the relationship between moment of inertia and angular velocity when angular
momentum is conserved.
II. Materials: Classroom set of computers with Activstudio
III. Procedure:
A. Notes: page 12-15
B. Demonstrations
IV. Evaluation: Homework 3
Lesson 4
I. Objectives: Students will be able to…
 analyze the tangential velocity of a body.
 analyze the centripetal acceleration of a body when tangential speed is constant.
 use Newton’s second law to calculate centripetal force of an object moving with uniform circular motion.
 determine that radius of revolution affects tangential speed, thereby affecting the magnitude of centripetal acceleration,
which, in turn, affects the magnitude of centripetal force.
II. Materials: Classroom set of computers with Activstudio; per lab
III. Procedure:
A. Notes: pages 16-18
B. ActivExpressions: page 19
C. Notes: pages 20-23
D. ActivExpressions: page 24
E. Students work through notes and activities on page 26 on own and create evidence of their work.
F. Debrief page 26 on page 27
G. Lab: “Massin’ Around”
IV. Evaluation: Homework 4, evidence of flipchart work, authentic demonstration, quiz, portfolio
Lesson 5
I. Objectives: Students will be able to…
 determine the gravitational force exerted between two masses.
II. Materials: Classroom set of computers with Activstudio
III. Procedure:
A. Notes: pages 28-31
B. ActivExpressions: page 32
C. Lecture: pages 33 - end
IV. Evaluation: Homework 5, evidence of flipchart work, lab, quiz, portfolio