Accelerated Frames of Reference: Inertial Forces

In the following interactive students will begin to discuss the inertial frame of reference and the non-inertial frame of reference. They will also describe the effects of the Coriolis force.

By the end of this section, you will be able to discuss the inertial frame of reference, discuss the non-inertial frame of reference, and describe the effects of the Coriolis force.

Those who take this challenge will draw force diagrams and then calculate velocities and displacement. The problems are applicable to any general physics curriculum that covers motion. Add this to your collection of homework...

Every knows that opposites attract! Here's a presentation that uses this background knowledge to explain magnetic fields and forces. The resource also explains the shape of magnetic fields and how to determine the direction of forces.

Wikipedia's site on centripetal force provides a section explaining the difference between centripetal force and centrifugal force. Includes formulas and hyperlinked terms.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Relative motion is always measured with a frame of reference. Evaluate a variety of frames of reference and inertial frames to understand relative motion.

Learners use an interactive simulation to explore the connection between force and air pressure. They adjust the mass of a vehicle and air pressure in its tires and predict the result. As the vehicle's mass increases, the tire pressure...

Students distinguish between the centripetal and centrifugal forces.

This lesson introduces the concept of an inertial reference frame.

Students develop a fast travelling hull for a boat. In this physical science lesson plan, the students' hulls will be tested in a channel (built by the teacher) with a fan as the driving force. The students will compete for who has the...