VCE Physics Unit 3 AOS 1

VCE Physics: Interactive Study Guide

Newton’s Laws & Forces

This lab explores the fundamentals of force and motion. By manipulating the variables for an object on an inclined plane, you can see how Newton’s Laws apply in a two-dimensional scenario. Observe how the forces change and directly determine the object’s acceleration.

Inclined Plane Simulator

Normal Force (FN)

0 N

Friction Force (Ff)

0 N

Net Force (Fnet)

0 N

Acceleration (a)

0.0 m/s²

Conservation of Momentum & Energy

In any collision within an isolated system, momentum is conserved. Kinetic energy, however, is only conserved in a perfectly elastic collision. This lab allows you to simulate collisions to visualize these fundamental conservation laws.

Collision Simulator

Cart 1 (Blue)

Cart 2 (Red)

Conservation Analysis

Projectile Motion

Launch a projectile and watch its trajectory unfold. This simulation demonstrates the core principle of projectile motion: the independence of horizontal and vertical motion. Adjust the launch parameters and observe the effects on range, height, and time of flight.

Cannon Simulator

Max Height

0 m

Range

0 m

Time of Flight

0.0 s

Motion Analysis Graphs

Uniform Circular Motion (UCM)

UCM requires a net force directed towards the center of the circle. This simulation explores this in a vertical loop, where tension and gravity combine to provide the centripetal force, leading to a varying “apparent weight”.

Vertical Loop Simulator

Centripetal Acceleration (ac)

0.0 m/s²

Tension at Top (Ttop)

0 N

Tension at Bottom (Tbottom)

0 N