Calculating Centripetal Force for 6 kg Object

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
7 replies · 3K views
John78
Messages
21
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement




Find the centripetal force required to rotate 6 kg object in a circle at a radius of 6m at one revolution per second.


Homework Equations



C.F. = mv2/r


3. The Attempt at a Solution [/b


Circumference=2 pi r=2*3.14*6=37.68

C.F. = 6*(37.68)2/6=1419.78



I just want to check whether my working is correct or not.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
that's about what I got too ^^
 
Looks like you wrote down
CF = m v2/r

but then you calculated the circumference, C = 2 π r

and then you said,

CF = r C2/6 = C2

Why would you expect the centripetal force to be equal to the square of the circumference?

It really is not.

Try it again, starting with CF = m r ω2 and see how that turns out for you. You failed to get the time information into the problem.
 
so

CF = m r ω2

CF = 6*6*(37.68)2=51112?
 
OldEngr63 said:
Looks like you wrote down
CF = m v2/r

but then you calculated the circumference, C = 2 π r

and then you said,

CF = r C2/6 = C2

Why would you expect the centripetal force to be equal to the square of the circumference?

It really is not.

Try it again, starting with CF = m r ω2 and see how that turns out for you. You failed to get the time information into the problem.

That's not really what he is doing, I think... He is doing CF = m v^2 / r, it just so happens that v is one circumference per second and that m and r have the same numerical value...
 
John78 said:
now i am confused :C

You shouldn't be, you got it right the first time around.
However, to get it right with the second formula, you have to use the proper value for ω, which in this case is 2π/s.

It would probably clear things up, if you would carry the units throughout your calculation and not just the numbers, that way you can always check if your result makes sense.
 
I think your working is correct