Year 13
Side A1: Motion in a Circle & Oscillations
Start Side A with angular motion, centripetal force, and simple harmonic motion.
Part of Year 13 CIE Physics 9702.
Topic Overview
What students will cover
This topic develops the mathematical and conceptual tools needed for circular motion and oscillations. You begin by replacing distance around a circle with angular displacement in radians, then use angular speed to connect period, frequency, radius, and linear speed.
The second half of the topic uses the same repeated-motion thinking in simple harmonic motion. Focus on how the equations, graphs, and energy changes describe one physical model rather than treating them as separate facts.
Revision
Topic revision route
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Recall vocabulary
Radian
the angle subtended at the centre of a circle by an arc equal in length to the radius.
angular speed
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centripetal acceleration
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centripetal force
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simple harmonic motion
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amplitude
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phase difference
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damping
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resonance
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angular displacement
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period
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linear speed
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resultant force
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tangential velocity
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uniform circular motion
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normal contact force
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tension
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circular orbit
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Resource bank
- Lesson resources
- 7
- Topic resources
- 0
Open the relevant lesson first, then use its linked slides, worksheets, simulations, or practice tasks.
Syllabus CIE 9702 coverage in this topic
17 points across 9 lessons
Show details
CIE 9702 coverage in this topic
17 points across 9 lessons
12.1.1
define the radian and express angular displacement in radians
12.1.2
understand and use the concept of angular speed
12.1.3
recall and use ω = 2π / T and v = rω
12.2.1
understand that a force of constant magnitude that is always perpendicular to the direction of motion causes centripetal acceleration
12.2.2
understand that centripetal acceleration causes circular motion with a constant angular speed
12.2.3
recall and use a = rω2 and a = v2 / r
12.2.4
recall and use F = mrω2 and F = mv2 / r
17.1.1
understand and use the terms displacement, amplitude, period, frequency, angular frequency and phase difference in the context of oscillations, and express the period in terms of both frequency and angular frequency
17.1.2
understand that simple harmonic motion occurs when acceleration is proportional to displacement from a fixed point and in the opposite direction
17.1.3
use a = – ω2 x and recall and use, as a solution to this equation, x = x0 sin ωt
17.1.4
use the equations v = v0 cos ωt and v = ± ω (x02 − x 2)
17.1.5
analyse and interpret graphical representations of the variations of displacement, velocity and acceleration for simple harmonic motion
17.2.1
describe the interchange between kinetic and potential energy during simple harmonic motion 1
17.2.2
recall and use E = 2 mω2 x02 for the total energy of a system undergoing simple harmonic motion
17.3.1
understand that a resistive force acting on an oscillating system causes damping
17.3.2
understand and use the terms light, critical and heavy damping and sketch displacement–time graphs illustrating these types of damping
17.3.3
understand that resonance involves a maximum amplitude of oscillations and that this occurs when an oscillating system is forced to oscillate at its natural frequency
Lessons
Lesson sequence
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Lesson
01Angular Velocity & Radians
Introduce angular velocity and radians as the foundation for circular motion.
Lesson
02Centripetal Force
Develop the force model that keeps an object moving in a circle.
Lesson
03Applications of Centripetal Force
Apply centripetal force ideas to familiar and unfamiliar physical situations.
Lesson
04SHM
Introduce the defining features of simple harmonic motion.
Lesson
05SHM Equations
Use the key equations that describe simple harmonic motion.
Lesson
06SHM Energy and Damping
Link SHM to energy changes and damping behaviour.
Lesson
07Revision
Review the full circular motion and oscillations topic before assessment.
Lesson
08Test
Assess circular motion and oscillations understanding.
Lesson
09Test Review
Review common errors and strengthen weak areas after the topic test.