Calculating Minimum Speed at Top of Vertical Loop

AI Thread Summary
To determine the maximum energy lost to friction for a roller coaster car to successfully navigate a vertical loop, one must calculate the minimum speed required at the top of the loop. Given the mass of the car (330 kg), initial speed (23.4 m/s), and loop radius (6.85 m), the normal force at the loop's peak is crucial for this calculation. The work-energy theorem can be applied to relate the initial kinetic energy, potential energy at the top of the loop, and energy lost to friction. Understanding these principles will guide the solution to the problem effectively.
SamLing2000
Messages
6
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A 330 kg roller coaster car sits on a horizontal track. Ahead of it is a vertical loop with radius of 6.85 m. The car is given an initial speed of 23.4 m/s and the car successfully traverses the loop. What is the maximum amount of energy taken away from the car by friction so that the car successfully travels through the loop? (Hint: think about the normal force that the track exerts on the car at the top of the loop, this should give you a minimum speed at the top of the loop.)

m=330
vo = 23.4
r=6.85

Homework Equations


??

The Attempt at a Solution


??
I am sorry but I have no clue as to how to approach this problem. Please point me in the right direction, hints and suggestions are extremely welcome.
I also find a Hint for the problem but i wasn't able to make as much use of this one as I thought.
(Hint: think about the normal force that the track exerts on the car at the top of the loop, this should give you a minimum speed at the top of the loop
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Any help is appreicated.
 
Have you learned about work-energy theorem?
 
Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
Thread 'Correct statement about a reservoir with an outlet pipe'
The answer to this question is statements (ii) and (iv) are correct. (i) This is FALSE because the speed of water in the tap is greater than speed at the water surface (ii) I don't even understand this statement. What does the "seal" part have to do with water flowing out? Won't the water still flow out through the tap until the tank is empty whether the reservoir is sealed or not? (iii) In my opinion, this statement would be correct. Increasing the gravitational potential energy of the...
Thread 'A bead-mass oscillatory system problem'
I can't figure out how to find the velocity of the particle at 37 degrees. Basically the bead moves with velocity towards right let's call it v1. The particle moves with some velocity v2. In frame of the bead, the particle is performing circular motion. So v of particle wrt bead would be perpendicular to the string. But how would I find the velocity of particle in ground frame? I tried using vectors to figure it out and the angle is coming out to be extremely long. One equation is by work...
Back
Top