Normal force, centripetal force

In summary, a woman is riding a Jet Ski at a speed of 26 m/s and needs to make a turn to avoid a seawall. The maximum angle she can lean the craft is 22°. Using the equations for circular motion, it can be determined that the minimum distance from the seawall that she can begin her turn and avoid a crash is 170.7 meters. However, this radius does not necessarily indicate the distance from the seawall. The velocity of the Jet Ski is perpendicular to the wall before starting the turn and parallel when closest to the wall.
  • #1
jehan4141
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A woman is riding a Jet Ski at a speed of 26 m/s and notices a seawall straight ahead. The farthest she can lean the craft in order to make a turn is 22°. This situation is like that of a car on a curve that is banked at an angle of 22°. If she tries to make the turn without slowing down, what is the minimum distance from the seawall that she can being making her turn and still avoid a crash?

V=26 m/s
Ncos22 = mg
Fc = mv2 / r = Nsin22
v2 / r = gtan22
r = 170.7 meters?

I know that this is the radius of the circle that she is turning on, but is this also the distance from the sea wall? If the wall is in front of her, the radius does not tell you anything about how far your are from the seawall...
 
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  • #2
Before the Jet Sky starts to turn its velocity is perpendicular to the wall. When it is closest to the wall, the velocity is parallel with the wall.

ehild
 

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  • #3
Thank you!
 

What is normal force?

Normal force is the force exerted by a surface on an object that is in contact with it. It is always perpendicular to the surface and acts in the opposite direction of the force pushing on the object.

What is centripetal force?

Centripetal force is the force that keeps an object moving in a circular path. It is directed towards the center of the circle and is necessary to maintain the object's constant speed and direction.

How is normal force related to centripetal force?

Normal force is a type of contact force, while centripetal force is a type of non-contact force. The normal force acts on an object to prevent it from falling through a surface, while centripetal force acts to keep an object moving in a circular path. In some cases, the normal force may also be the centripetal force, such as when a car is driving around a banked curve.

Can normal force and centripetal force be the same?

Yes, in certain situations, the normal force can act as the centripetal force. This occurs when the object is moving in a circular path on a banked surface, where the normal force provides the necessary centripetal force to keep the object moving in its circular path.

How do you calculate normal force and centripetal force?

The normal force can be calculated using the equation FN = mg, where m is the mass of the object and g is the acceleration due to gravity. Centripetal force can be calculated using the equation Fc = mv2/r, where m is the mass of the object, v is its velocity, and r is the radius of the circular path.

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