Questions about circular motion/ centripetal acceleration/force

In summary, a 20 kg ball attached to a string is moving in constant circular motion with a radius of 0.5 m and a theta value of 10 degrees. The only forces acting on the ball are F(centripetal) and F(gravity), with a weight of 196 N. In order to find the velocity, the forces must be balanced, including the tension force which is at an angle. This can be solved using vector analysis.
  • #1
brittylaurel
2
0

Homework Statement


a 20 kg ball attached to a string is moving in constant circular motion. if theta= 10 degrees and the radius of its circular path is 0.5 m, what is the ball's velocity?


Homework Equations


a(centripetal)=V^2/r


The Attempt at a Solution



As far as I got was F(net)=F(centripetal), then I was lost
 
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  • #2
brittylaurel said:

Homework Statement




As far as I got was F(net)=F(centripetal), then I was lost

What forces are on your ball? (draw it and then an fbd)
 
  • #3
Oh! The teacher told the class that there are only two forces acting on the ball. There is F(centripetal) and there is F(gravity) which is 196 N I got that from the information. What is an fbd?
 
  • #4
brittylaurel said:
What is an fbd?

Free Body Diagram~ it's where you draw the object (or usually just a dot to represent it) and use arrows on it to represent the forces.
Also, the centriptial force is not a new force (the name is misleading), its the net force of a circular motion problem. Certain forces on the object (like weight, etc) cause the circular motion, which results in an overall net force that makes the object go in a circle. (circular overall net force = centripital force). So what forces make your object go in a circle?
 
  • #5
brittylaurel said:
Oh! The teacher told the class that there are only two forces acting on the ball. There is F(centripetal) and there is F(gravity) which is 196 N I got that from the information. What is an fbd?

Yes, there's a weight component, and there's a centripetal force, but there's also tension. How can you relate these three?
 
  • #6
brittylaurel said:

Homework Statement


a 20 kg ball attached to a string is moving in constant circular motion. if theta= 10 degrees and the radius of its circular path is 0.5 m, what is the ball's velocity?
It appears the string is at an angle...while another force is perpendicular to the object... If the object doesn't move up or down, doesn't that mean that something is balancing out the force? If so, how does a Force at an angle balance it out? (think vectors)
 

1. What is circular motion?

Circular motion is the movement of an object along a circular path. This type of motion involves a constant change in direction, but the speed of the object remains constant. Examples of circular motion include the motion of planets around the sun and the motion of a spinning top.

2. What is centripetal acceleration?

Centripetal acceleration is the acceleration that is directed towards the center of a circular path. It is always perpendicular to the velocity of the object and is responsible for keeping the object moving in a circular motion. It is given by the formula a = v^2/r, where v is the velocity of the object and r is the radius of the circular path.

3. What is the difference between centripetal acceleration and centripetal force?

Centripetal acceleration is the acceleration that is required to keep an object moving in a circular motion, while centripetal force is the force that is responsible for providing this acceleration. The centripetal force acts towards the center of the circular path and is given by the formula F = mv^2/r, where m is the mass of the object, v is the velocity, and r is the radius.

4. How does centripetal force affect an object's speed?

Centripetal force does not directly affect an object's speed. Instead, it affects the direction of the object's velocity. The centripetal force is always perpendicular to the velocity, so it causes the object to continuously change its direction and move in a circular path. The speed of the object remains constant as long as the centripetal force is balanced by an equal and opposite force, such as the tension in a string or the gravitational force.

5. What are some real-life applications of circular motion?

Circular motion has numerous real-life applications, including satellite orbits, amusement park rides, and car racing. It is also essential in the functioning of many everyday objects, such as washing machines, centrifuges, and ceiling fans. The concept of centripetal force is also crucial in understanding the rotation of the Earth around the sun and the moon around the Earth.

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