# Basic Physics Problem

1. Oct 29, 2011

### smashbrohamme

A certain light truck can go around a flat curve having a radius of 150 m with a maximum speed of 35.5 m/s. With what maximum speed can it go around a curve having a radius of 79.5 m?

I was trying to use the relationship of V=RW but I can't seem to figure out this simple problem.

Is this a centripetal acceleration problem?

What method is best to solve this?

2. Oct 29, 2011

### Nytik

Well, the limiting factor is the force on the truck, right? So if you work out the force (or equivalently, the acceleration since mass is the same in both cases) on the truck in the first scenario, you can use the same value of max centripetal force/acceleration for the new curve.

3. Oct 29, 2011

### smashbrohamme

so I can figure out the acceleration and linear distance of the radius to figure out how fast it can go using kinematic equations eh?

4. Oct 29, 2011

### Nytik

Just use the equation for acceleration in a circle, $a=v^2/r$ to determine the acceleration in the first case. Then use your result with the second value of 'r' in order to determine your new velocity.

5. Oct 29, 2011

### smashbrohamme

it seems I dont have enough information to use the kinemativ equations.

6. Oct 29, 2011

### Nytik

You only need the one equation I gave in my post above!

7. Oct 29, 2011

### smashbrohamme

nice, a=v^2/r for circle acceleration..that is a very useful equation.

8. Oct 29, 2011

### smashbrohamme

yea sorry about that, if you look at the time we posted at the same time so I didnt see your great equation at posting.