- #1
Redrover33
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Homework Statement
A motorcycle (290kg) and rider (55kg) crest the top of a hill at a steady speed of 25m/s. The hill has a radius of curvature of 126m.
a) What is the magnitude of the normal force experienced by the rider?
b) What is the magnitude of the centripetal force experienced by the motorcycle?
c) At what speed would the motorcycle and rider lose contact with the surface of the hill?
Homework Equations
Fn = m*g
A = (v^2)/r
Ff = Us*Fn
Where Fn = Normal Force, Ff = Frictional Force, Us = Max static friction
The Attempt at a Solution
So a) and b) are no problem but its c) that has been bugging me all night. From what I can tell, there isn't enough information to find the maximum speed the rider can go. Am I wrong? I know that the centripetal acceleration x mass is = to the frictional force but we aren't given the maximum frictional force or the coefficient of friction.