Post

Calculating Centripetal Force in Circular Motion

Created by @nathanedwards
 at December 1st 2023, 8:13:02 pm.
AP_Physics_1-Questions
#physics
#circular-motion
#centripetal-force

Question:

A circular disk of mass 0.5 kg is attached to a string and swung in a horizontal circle of radius 0.6 m. The speed of the disk is 5 m/s. What is the centripetal force acting on the mass?

Answer:

The centripetal force acting on an object moving in a circular path can be calculated using the formula:

Fc=mv2r F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}

Where:

  • Fc F_c = Centripetal force
  • m m = mass of the object
  • v v = velocity of the object
  • r r = radius of the circular path

Substitute the given values into the formula:

Fc=(0.5kg)(5m/s)20.6m F_c = \frac{(0.5 kg)(5 m/s)^2}{0.6 m}
Fc=(0.5kg)(25m2/s2)0.6m F_c = \frac{(0.5 kg)(25 m^2/s^2)}{0.6 m}
Fc=12.5kg⋅m/s20.6m F_c = \frac{12.5 kg \cdot m/s^2}{0.6 m}
Fc=20.83N F_c = 20.83 N

Therefore, the centripetal force acting on the mass is 20.83 N.

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