Motion in a Circle: Find Slowest Speed for Roller Coaster

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem related to motion in a circular path, specifically focusing on the conditions for a roller coaster at the top of a vertical loop. The original poster is trying to determine the slowest speed required for the roller coaster to maintain motion without additional centripetal force beyond its weight.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between centripetal force and gravitational force, with one participant attempting to derive the speed using the formula for centripetal acceleration. Questions about the correctness of the provided answer and the method of calculation are also raised.

Discussion Status

The conversation is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the problem. Some guidance has been offered regarding the relationship between centripetal force and weight, but there is no explicit consensus on the correct answer or method yet.

Contextual Notes

The original poster mentions that this is holiday homework and expresses frustration over potentially incorrect answers in the textbook, which may be influencing their understanding of the problem.

fern
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heh! this is my first post!
ok... I've been trying to do this for ages, i think I am just doing it the wrong way... its holiday homework so i couldn't ask my teacher
i drew a diagram but i think i did it wrong... I am just not getting the right answer!
ok here it is
part of a roller coster track is in the shape of a vertical circle of radius 300m. what is the slowest speed the roller coster can have at the top of the loop so that all the centripetal force is supplied by the roller coaster's weight?
answer:5.86 m/s
could someone please explain how to do this!
stank you! :smile:
 
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Allright:
Given velocity and radius of the circle you're moving on; what's the centripetal ACCELERATION you experience?
 
As far as I know the answer is
centripetal force=weight
mv^2 /r= mg
v=54.221 m/s
 
Looks good to me; the answer is wrong.
 
argh! thank you! heheh that answer (5,86) was in the back of the book! i hate it when they make mistakes it just confuses me!
i propbaly would have got it if the answer was right!
thank you so much! :smile:
 

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