- #1
slammer
- 8
- 0
Im trying to find the normal force that acts on an roller coaster when going aruond a loop. when the roller coaster is at the top the Fn is always 0 right? And is that the only time its 0?
slammer said:Im trying to find the normal force that acts on an roller coaster when going aruond a loop. when the roller coaster is at the top the Fn is always 0 right? And is that the only time its 0?
The normal force is the force that a surface exerts on an object that is in contact with it. It is always perpendicular (or "normal") to the surface and acts in the opposite direction of any other forces acting on the object.
In a loop, the normal force is essential for keeping the object moving in a circular path. It acts as a centripetal force, pushing the object towards the center of the loop and preventing it from flying off in a straight line.
The magnitude of the normal force in a loop is dependent on the force of gravity pulling down on the object and the velocity of the object. As the velocity increases, the normal force must also increase to keep the object moving in a circular path.
Yes, in certain scenarios the normal force can be greater than the force of gravity. This can happen if the object is accelerating in a circular path, such as in a loop-de-loop, and the normal force must increase to match the increased velocity of the object.
If the normal force is not strong enough in a loop, the object will not be able to maintain a circular path and will fly off in a straight line. This is why it is crucial for the normal force to be equal to or greater than the force of gravity in a loop.