Centripetal acceleration in a roller coaster loop

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the centripetal acceleration of a ball in a roller coaster loop with a diameter of 0.12 m. The participant is considering whether to use average velocity or instantaneous velocity to determine the centripetal acceleration, given that the ball's speed changes throughout the loop. The consensus is that if the speed remains relatively constant, averaging the velocities is appropriate. However, for more precise calculations, using instantaneous velocity at specific points is recommended.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of centripetal acceleration in circular motion
  • Familiarity with concepts of average and instantaneous velocity
  • Basic knowledge of experimental physics and data analysis
  • Ability to apply equations of motion in circular paths
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the formula for centripetal acceleration: a_c = v²/r
  • Learn about the differences between average and instantaneous velocity calculations
  • Explore experimental methods for measuring velocity in circular motion
  • Study the effects of varying speed on centripetal acceleration in practical scenarios
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Students studying physics, particularly those focusing on mechanics and circular motion, as well as educators looking for practical examples of centripetal acceleration in experiments.

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Homework Statement


I performed an experiment with a plastic tube and a ball. The tube was shaped into a roller coaster track with a circular vertical loop of diameter 0.12 m. I have to calculate the centripetal acceleration of the ball while in motion within the loop. I have only studied uniform motion related with centripetal acceleration, however in this case the velocity of the ball changes as it passes through the loop. To obtain a more accurate result should I,
a) get the average of some velocities and determine the average velocity of the ball when it passes through the loop.
or
b) use one of the points to determine the instantaneous centripetal acceleration.

Thank you.

Homework Equations



The Attempt at a Solution


N/A
 
Physics news on Phys.org
If your experiment warranted that the speed remain constant, then do the average. From how it sounds, that is how your experiment went about.
 
What data do you have?

What instructions or suggestions were you given to help you analyze the data?

For an object with uniform circular motion, what do you know about the object's centripetal acceleration?
 

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