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Why Circles Need Pulls
Created by Shaunak Ghosh
Discover why spinning rides, planets, and even space stations don’t fling objects into space. You’ll move from everyday turns to the science of centripetal forces and orbits, replacing the myth of an ‘outward’ force with clear, logic-driven physics.
Requirements
- Basic idea that forces change motion
- Comfort reading simple vector arrows (direction)
What you'll learn
- Identify real-world situations involving circular motion and name the inward force at work
- Explain, using Newton’s First Law, why an object released from circular motion travels straight
- Debunk the ‘centrifugal force’ misconception by distinguishing real and fictitious forces
- Draw and label tangential velocity and centripetal force vectors for an object in uniform circular motion
- Apply the idea of continuous inward pull to explain artificial gravity and the basics of planetary orbits
Learning path
6 modules • Each builds on the previous one
1
Everyday Rotation Examples
Learners recall common spinning situations—car turns, playground merry-go-rounds—to anchor new ideas in prior experience.
1 video6 min
2
Straight-Line Inertia Basics
Introduces Newton’s First Law, emphasizing that without external forces objects continue in a straight line at constant speed.
1 video4 min
3
Debunking Outward Force Myth
Explains why people feel an apparent outward push during turns and clarifies that it is not a real force but inertia.
1 video4 min
4
Defining Centripetal Force
Introduces centripetal (center-seeking) force, showing how friction, tension, or gravity supply the inward pull necessary for circular paths.
1 video6 min
5
Tangent vs Center Directions
Uses vector diagrams to contrast the object’s instantaneous tangential velocity with the inward centripetal force.
1 video4 min
6
Orbit: Continuous Falling Sideways
Applies inertia and centripetal concepts to planetary motion, showing gravity as the inward pull that makes planets fall around the sun rather than into it.
1 video6 min
Start Learning
Begin your learning journey
Modules6
Duration26 min
Science-backed learning
In-video quizzes and scaffolded content to maximize retention.
Key concepts
Everyday Examples Of Circular MotionStraight-Line Inertia And Newton’S First LawApparent Vs Real Forces In TurnsDefinition And Sources Of Centripetal ForceDifference Between Tangential Velocity And Radial ForceContinuous Falling Concept For Artificial Gravity And Orbits