The Physics Classroom » Lesson Plans » Conceptual Physics » Circular and Satellite Motion

Conceptual Physics Course Package

We are nearing completion of our Conceptual Physics Course Package. This downloadable package will include Think Sheets created specifically for a Conceptual Physics course. The Think Sheets will be available in Microsoft Word format, allowing teachers to easily make changes and customize the product. Answer sheets will be provided in both PDF and Microsoft Word format. Each unit contains a file titled ImageBanks which includes graphics used in the Think Sheets, allowing teachers the ability to modify them and re-purpose them for quizzes, tests, and other products. The downloadable package also included an entire lab program for our 12 units. This will include Student Activity Sheets and Teacher Guides in Microsoft Word format. The Teacher Guides include expected answers and to the Student Activity Sheets, time estimates, material lists, a description of alternative materials and methods, procedural details, and words of caution. Finally, each unit is equipped with a Bonus folder that has a generous collection of other goodies of interest to teachers of the course.

We are expecting the product to be complete and available for purchase in April or May of 2025. An update will be provided once the project is complete.

In creating our Lesson Plans and Learning Outcomes for this course we have referenced several of the items that we intend to place in the package. We have used red text wherever we have made such a reference. These items will only be available by purchase of the course package.
 

Circular and Satellite Motion - Lesson Plans

The lesson plans below include links to the specific resources on our website.

Teacher Guides for labs can be found here.

NOTE: All CalcPad problem sets are customized problem sets created specifically for this course. The links direct users to the Guest version. Task Tracker users should use the link on the Task Tracker page to the trackable CalcPad version.

 
 

Day 1 of Circular and Satellite Motion

Lesson Plan
  1. Introduce unit
  2. Lab 1 - Making the Turn
  3. Discuss Circular Motion:
    Speed vs. velocity, acceleration, net force; direction of vectors; why is there an acceleration for a constant speed motion?; the law of inertia; centripetal force requirement; demonstrations
  4. Pair Practice: Speed and Velocity Think Sheet
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Circular and Satellite Motion: Lesson 1, Parts a and b
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission CG1 on Speed and Velocity


 

Day 2 of Circular and Satellite Motion

Lesson Plan
  1. Physics Interactives: Uniform Circular Motion with Student Activity Sheet
    Do and process; discuss v, a, and Fnet for circular motion
  2. Pair Practice: Velocity, Acceleration, and Net Force
    Do and check; then start ...
  3. Circular Logic (Master Level only)
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Circular and Satellite Motion: Lesson 1, Part c and d
  2. Complete Circular Motion Concept Checker


 

Day 3 of Circular and Satellite Motion

Lesson Plan
  1. Detail the law of inertia and the outward sensation of a force; use Circular Motion and Inertia Think Sheet
  2. Lab 2 - Whirled Peas
    Do and process; emphasis on FBD and relative magnitude of forces
  3. Guided/Pair/Individual Practice: do ~2 Qs from Force Analysis for Circular Motion Think Sheet
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Minds On Physics: Mission CG3 on Centripetal Force and Inertia
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission CG4 on Centripetal Force Requirement


 

Day 4 of Circular and Satellite Motion

Lesson Plan
  1. Guided/Pair/Individual Practice: do ~3-4 Qs from Force Analysis for Circular Motion Think Sheet
  2. Concept Builder: Forces and Free-Body Diagrams in Circular Motion (either Apprentice Level only)
  3. Start CalcPad - Circular and Satellite Motion 1: Newton's 2nd Law Analysis
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Circular and Satellite Motion: Lesson 2, Parts a and b
  2. CalcPad - Circular and Satellite Motion 1: Newton's 2nd Law Analysis


 

Day 5 of Circular and Satellite Motion

Lesson Plan
  1. Guided/Pair/Individual Practice: do ~2 Qs from Force Analysis for Circular Motion Think Sheet
  2. Physics Interactives: Race Track Simulation
    Do and process; follow it up with a Concept Checker
  3. CalcPad - Circular and Satellite Motion 2: Newton's 2nd Law Analysis
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Review as needed: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Circular and Satellite Motion: Lesson 2, Parts a and b
  2. CalcPad - Circular and Satellite Motion 2: Newton's 2nd Law Analysis


 

Day 6 of Circular and Satellite Motion

Lesson Plan
  1. Physics Interactives: The Barrel Ride using Student Activity Sheet
    Students collect data and complete the activity sheet
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Prepare for tomorrow's quiz
  2. Complete Student Activity Sheet if not yet done


 

Day 7 of Circular and Satellite Motion

Lesson Plan
  1. Physics Interactives: Gravitational Fields with Student Activity Sheet
    Do and process
  2. Discuss Newton's theory: product of the masses; inverse square law; universal
  3. Quiz on Learning Outcomes #1 - #3
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Circular and Satellite Motion: Lesson 3, Parts a, b, and c
  2. Finish Gravitational Fields Concept Checker


 

Day 8 of Circular and Satellite Motion

Lesson Plan
  1. Review Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation
  2. Pair Practice: Universal Gravitation Think Sheet
  3. Do and check answers; then ...
  4. Concept Builder: Universal Gravitation
  5. Minds On Physics: Mission CG6 on Universal Gravitation
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Review as needed: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Circular and Satellite Motion: Lesson 3, Parts a, b, and c
  2. If not done, complete: Mission CG6


 

Day 9 of Circular and Satellite Motion

Lesson Plan
  1. Physics Interactives: Orbital Motion with Student Activity Sheet
  2. Discuss Satellite Motion
    What is a satellite?, Newton's Mountain thought experiment; falling towards the Earth vs. falling into the Earth; acceleration of gravity ... diluted by distance; effect of distance upon required speed to orbit
  3. Pair Practice: Newton's Mountain and Satellites Think Sheet
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Circular and Satellite Motion: Lesson 4, Part b
  2. Orbital Motion Concept Checker


 

Day 10 of Circular and Satellite Motion

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss Kepler's Laws
  2. Pair Practice: Kepler's Laws and Planetary Motion Think Sheet
  3. Science Reasoning Center: Universal Gravitation
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Circular and Satellite Motion: Lesson 4, Part a
  2. If not done in class, complete SRC: Universal Gravitation


 

Day 11 of Circular and Satellite Motion

Lesson Plan
  1. Physics Interactives: Elevator Ride with Student Activity Sheet
  2. Discuss Weightlessness concept; associate with Elevator Ride simulation
  3. Pair Practice: Weightlessness Think Sheet
    Do and check answers; then start ...
  4. Start Elevator Ride Concept Checker
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Circular and Satellite Motion: Lesson 4, Part e
  2. If not done in class, complete: Elevator Ride Concept Checker


 

Day 12 of Circular and Satellite Motion

Lesson Plan
  1. Minds On Physics: Mission CG9 on Weightlessness
  2. Science Reasoning Center: Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion
  3. Discuss Test
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Prepare for Tomorrow's Test
  2. Complete all unfinished work