Calculate Apparent Weight at Point S

[astrololo]

Homework Statement

When the train has passed at the point C, the radii of curvature is 20 m and the apparent weight is 2 2 times bigger than the real weight. At the moment when the picture was taken, the train was at the point s, located 8 m higher than the hollow C. At s, the radii of curvature est 16m. Calculate the quotient between the apparent weight at the point S and the real weight. There is no friction and no air resistance.

http://imgur.com/R2A4pya

Homework Equations

Sum of force in y = (mv^2)/radii

Energy at s = energy s

k=mv^2/2

U=m*g*y

The Attempt at a Solution

I know what to do :

I calculate the speed at the point C. I get 62,6 m/s

I put up equations which respect that Es=Ec to find my speed at S

I do the sum of forces at S and find n and divide it by mg.

Now, the only point which I am not sure is what is the height the point S ? I is 48 m ?

 

[Nathanael]

I calculate the speed at the point C. I get 62,6 m/s

How do you get that?

Now, the only point which I am not sure is what is the height the point S ?

"The height of the point S" is an incomplete (meaningless) statement. When you measure the height of something, you must measure the height with respect to some reference point. So, from where do you want to measure the height of S?

 

[astrololo]

How do you get that?

"The height of the point S" is an incomplete (meaningless) statement. When you measure the height of something, you must measure the height with respect to some reference point. So, from where do you want to measure the height of S?

From 0 at the point C I guess

 

[Nathanael]

From 0 at the point C I guess

Ok, is there anything in the problem statement about that?

Also, double check how you found the speed, because I do not get 62 m/s.

 

[astrololo]

Ok, is there anything in the problem statement about that?

Also, double check how you found the speed, because I do not get 62 m/s.

Well, I set up n=2mg

Sum of forces y = mv^2/r

2mg-mg=mv^2/r

2g-g=v^2/20

which gives v = 14 m/s right ? I guess I did an error

 

[haruspex]

which gives v = 14 m/s

Yes.
The problem statement does not say that the train merely coasts up the hill, but presumably that is the intent.

 

[astrololo]

Yes.
The problem statement does not say that the train merely coasts up the hill, but presumably that is the intent.

Ok, but what is the height at the point s ? I am not sure, is it 48 m ? 2 times the radii + 8 m.

 

[haruspex]

Ok, but what is the height at the point s ? I am not sure, is it 48 m ? 2 times the radii + 8 m.

the point s, [is] located 8 m higher than [the hollow at] C

A clue is that it does not have enough KE to rise much more than 8m.

 

[astrololo]

A clue is that it does not have enough KE to rise much more than 8m.

So it's 8 ?

 

[Nathanael]

So it's 8 ?

Yes, that is most likely what they meant.
(I'm not sure why they said "8 m higher than the hollow C" though... I don't know what the word hollow was supposed to mean here.)

 

[astrololo]

Yes, that is most likely what they meant.
(I'm not sure why they said "8 m higher than the hollow C" though... I don't know what the word hollow was supposed to mean here.)

It's a translation from another language lol But the final answer is supposed to be 3/4. Does it give this ?

 

[haruspex]

It's a translation from another language lol But the final answer is supposed to be 3/4. Does it give this ?

Yes.
A tip: avoid using inexact numerical values calculated at intermediate steps. Ideally, keep everything in algebraic symbols until the final steps. This prevents the accumulation of rounding errors. In the present case e.g., you can avoid taking a square root to find the velocity, only to find that it's the square of the velocity that's needed.

 

[astrololo]

Yes.
A tip: avoid using inexact numerical values calculated at intermediate steps. Ideally, keep everything in algebraic symbols until the final steps. This prevents the accumulation of rounding errors. In the present case e.g., you can avoid taking a square root to find the velocity, only to find that it's the square of the velocity that's needed.

I obtained the following : quotient= (9,8m+(39,2m)/16)/9,8m=1.25

I feel like there is a minus missing

 

[haruspex]

I obtained the following : quotient= (9,8m+(39,2m)/16)/9,8m=1.25

I feel like there is a minus missing

Your feeling is correct.
What are the forces acting on the train at S? What is the acceleration of the train at S? What equation relates the two?