Home > Physics > Circular Motion

A model train with a mass of #5 kg# is moving along a track at #4 (cm)/s#. If the curvature of the track changes from a radius of #16 cm# to #12 cm#, by how much must the centripetal force applied by the tracks change?

Answer 1

Isabella Alvarez

Centripetal force must decrease by 52.6%

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Answer 2

Emily Abbate

To calculate the change in centripetal force, we use the formula:

ΔF = mv^2/Δr

Where: ΔF = change in centripetal force m = mass of the train (5 kg) v = velocity of the train (4 cm/s) Δr = change in radius (16 cm - 12 cm = 4 cm)

Plugging in the values:

ΔF = (5 kg)(4 cm/s)^2 / 4 cm

ΔF = 20 kg⋅(cm/s)^2 / 4 cm

ΔF = 20/4 kg⋅(cm/s)^2

ΔF = 5 kg⋅(cm/s)^2

So, the centripetal force applied by the tracks must change by 5 kg⋅(cm/s)^2.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.