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A model train with a mass of #6 kg# is moving along a track at #15 (cm)/s#. If the curvature of the track changes from a radius of #3 cm# to #15 cm#, by how much must the centripetal force applied by the tracks change?

Answer 1

William Audy

The change in centripetal force is #=3.6N#

Centripetal force is what

#F=(mv^2)/r#

mass, #m=6kg#

speed, #v=0.15ms^-1#

radius, #=r#

The centripetal force fluctuation is

#DeltaF=F_2-F_1#

#F_1=6*0.15^2/0.03=4.5N#

#F_2=6*0.15^2/0.15=0.9N#

#DeltaF=4.5-0.9=3.6N#

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Answer 2

Charles Aeschliman

The centripetal force must increase by approximately 9 times.

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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.