Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 2
KINEMATICS
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KINEMATICS
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Subject: Physics
Class: SHS 2
Term: 1st Term
Week: 10
Grade code: 2.1.3.LI.3
Strand code: 1
Sub-strand code: 3
Content standard code: 2.1.3.CS.1
Indicator code: 2.1.3.LI.3
Theme: MECHANICS AND MATTER
Subtheme: KINEMATICS
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This lesson explores a critical application of circular motion that we experience every day: how vehicles safely navigate curved roads. Have you ever been in a tro-tro or taxi taking a sharp turn at the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange and felt like you were being pushed to the side? That feeling is at the heart of today's topic. We will investigate why cars sometimes skid on flat curves and how civil engineers design "banked" or tilted roads to make them safer, even at high speeds. Understanding the physics of banking and skidding is essential not just for passing exams, but for appreciating road design, promoting road safety, and becoming a more informed driver or passenger.
This lesson is built on our previous knowledge of Forces, Newton's Laws, and Centripetal Force (`Fc = mv²/r`). Today, we apply these ideas. Part A: The Problem - Skidding on a Flat, Curved Road
Imagine a car making a turn on a flat road, like a roundabout in Accra. Question: What force pulls the car towards the centre of the roundabout, forcing it to follow the curved path? Answer: The force of static friction between the tyres and the road surface.
This frictional force provides the necessary centripetal force (`Fc`).
Diagram: Forces on a Car on a Flat Curve (View from behind) ``` ^ Normal Reaction (N) | Car (Friction, f) | | v Weight (mg) ```