Lesson Plan

• Describe angular displacement, angular speed and angular acceleration, including their units.
• Explain how angular speed relates to linear speed and centripetal acceleration (v = ωr, a_c = ω²r).
• Apply the key formulas to calculate ω, v, a_c, period and frequency for uniform circular motion problems.
• Convert between rad s⁻¹, rpm and Hz and express answers with appropriate significant figures.
• Identify common misconceptions about angular speed and correct them.

• Projector and screen
• Whiteboard and markers
• Printed worksheet with practice problems
• Scientific calculators
• Toy car and circular track (or video demonstration)
• Ruler/compass for drawing circles

Begin with the question, “What happens to a car that drives around a circular track at constant speed?” Students recall linear speed and note that the direction changes. Explain that today they will learn to describe this motion with angular speed and see how it links to linear quantities. Success criteria: students will be able to compute ω and related quantities and spot typical errors.

1. Do‑now (5 min): short quiz on linear speed vs. acceleration.
2. Mini‑lecture (10 min): introduce angular displacement, speed, acceleration; present key formulas.
3. Demonstration (5 min): toy car on a circular track – measure radius, discuss direction of centripetal acceleration.
4. Guided practice (15 min): work through the example problem together, highlighting unit checks.
5. Independent practice (10 min): worksheet problems; teacher circulates to provide feedback.
6. Check for understanding (5 min): exit ticket – calculate ω for a given r and v.

Summarise the relationships v = ωr and a_c = ω²r, reminding students how to move between angular and linear descriptions. Collect exit tickets and preview the homework: complete additional circular‑motion problems from the textbook. Encourage students to review the common misconceptions discussed earlier.