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modulus
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A Matter of Wheels and Trains and The Spin of the Earth..!?
This question actually comes from a book of mathematical puzzles. The particular question I'm going to state, uses the concept of centrifugal force. And though I'm pretty sure a good mathematician should have a clear understanding of physics, I have a feeling, that the concept of centrifugal force has been misused in this question.
Question:Two identical trains, at the equator start traveling round the world in opposite directions. They start ogether, run at the same speed and are on different tracks. Which train will wear out its wheel treads first?
The Given Answer:Naturally, the train traveling against the spin of the earth. This train will wear out its wheels more quickly becausethe centrifugal force is less on this train.
I don't think we really need any equations. Just a clear conceptual knowledge of centrifugal forces and friction. This may possibly help:
f = neta*mu
Here, 'neta' is the normal force and should be equal to the train's weight minus the so-called 'centrifugal force'.
After reading the question, and some thinking, I figured out it had to do with the spin of the Earth. But the 'centrifugal force' thing really didn't hit me.
My solution was based on the idea that the wheels of any train will try to push the ground in the direction opposite to that in which the train is moving. So, the spin of the Earth is beneficial for the train moving opposite to that spin, because the Earth moves in the direction the wheels try to push it in.
As for the train moving with the Earth's spin, the Earth moves in the direction against which the wheels push it in, so the Earth provides it with a good amount of resistance (friction), and thus, this train's wheels should wwear out first.
But the answer says, the train moving against should wear out first, because it has less centrifugal force on it...?? How does that make sense? They use the word 'centrifugal force' so liberally...as if it's a by-product of circular motion! I thought centrifugal force was a pseudo force?
The questions I want to ask here are:
1. Should the directions of the trains have any effect on the way centrifugal force acts on them (because as far as the direction of this force is concerned, it's just either radially inward or radially outward, right)?
2. If the weight of the trains are the centripetal force in this case, why don't they move in circles the whole time? Because, if the triains exist, they have weight, and that weight acts radially inward. So...that weight can always act as a centripetal force. Basically what I'm saying is, how do we attribute circular motion to only a force which acts along the radius of the circle, why not on the circumference?
3. And finally, which answer is correct? Mine or the book's...or neither?
Any help will be greatly appreciated, thank you!
This question actually comes from a book of mathematical puzzles. The particular question I'm going to state, uses the concept of centrifugal force. And though I'm pretty sure a good mathematician should have a clear understanding of physics, I have a feeling, that the concept of centrifugal force has been misused in this question.
Homework Statement
Question:Two identical trains, at the equator start traveling round the world in opposite directions. They start ogether, run at the same speed and are on different tracks. Which train will wear out its wheel treads first?
The Given Answer:Naturally, the train traveling against the spin of the earth. This train will wear out its wheels more quickly becausethe centrifugal force is less on this train.
Homework Equations
I don't think we really need any equations. Just a clear conceptual knowledge of centrifugal forces and friction. This may possibly help:
f = neta*mu
Here, 'neta' is the normal force and should be equal to the train's weight minus the so-called 'centrifugal force'.
The Attempt at a Solution
After reading the question, and some thinking, I figured out it had to do with the spin of the Earth. But the 'centrifugal force' thing really didn't hit me.
My solution was based on the idea that the wheels of any train will try to push the ground in the direction opposite to that in which the train is moving. So, the spin of the Earth is beneficial for the train moving opposite to that spin, because the Earth moves in the direction the wheels try to push it in.
As for the train moving with the Earth's spin, the Earth moves in the direction against which the wheels push it in, so the Earth provides it with a good amount of resistance (friction), and thus, this train's wheels should wwear out first.
But the answer says, the train moving against should wear out first, because it has less centrifugal force on it...?? How does that make sense? They use the word 'centrifugal force' so liberally...as if it's a by-product of circular motion! I thought centrifugal force was a pseudo force?
The questions I want to ask here are:
1. Should the directions of the trains have any effect on the way centrifugal force acts on them (because as far as the direction of this force is concerned, it's just either radially inward or radially outward, right)?
2. If the weight of the trains are the centripetal force in this case, why don't they move in circles the whole time? Because, if the triains exist, they have weight, and that weight acts radially inward. So...that weight can always act as a centripetal force. Basically what I'm saying is, how do we attribute circular motion to only a force which acts along the radius of the circle, why not on the circumference?
3. And finally, which answer is correct? Mine or the book's...or neither?
Any help will be greatly appreciated, thank you!