Centripetal acceleration/ motion question

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the speed of an object as it exits a half-circle ramp, the formula v² = v₀² + 2aΔx is not appropriate, as it pertains to linear acceleration. Instead, the conservation of energy principle should be applied, which involves the relationship between potential energy and kinetic energy. The relevant equation includes terms like 1/2 mv² and mgh, indicating the conversion of potential energy at the top of the ramp to kinetic energy at the exit. Understanding this concept is crucial for solving the problem accurately. Utilizing conservation of energy will provide the correct final velocity of the object.
chudzoik
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I am trying to calculate the speed of an object at the point that it flys off the half circle ramp, and I was wondering if it would be correct to use the formula v2=v20+2aΔx to calculate the final velocity of the object as it exits the half circle thing.
 

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welcome to pf!

hi chudzoi! welcome to pf! :smile:

(what does centripetal acceleration have to do with this? :confused:)
chudzoik said:
… I was wondering if it would be correct to use the formula v2=v20+2aΔx to calculate the final velocity of the object as it exits the half circle thing.

that's a linear acceleration formula, isn't it?

hint: always check first whether you can use a conservation equation :wink:
 
I honestly have no idea what your hint means :-p
Can you explain further about what formula I'm supposed to use?
 
do you know any equations called "conservation of (something)"? :smile:

(i may have gone to bed by the time you answer :zzz:)
 
Well I know conservation of momentum, but I don't know how it would apply to my question.
 
aha!

you'll need to look up conservation of energy :smile:
 
Is that the formula with 1/2 mv2 and mgh in it? I looked it up and it came up with stuff like Δ(U+K) = 0 and U + K = E which don't look familiar to me at all. I'm in Grade 12 right now, so should I have learned it?
 
yeah that's what you'll be wanting to use for this problem, it's the same idea as conservation of momentum: initial = final
 
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