Centripetal Force; calculating speed

AI Thread Summary
The centripetal force acting on the towel is provided by the tension in the washing machine's drum. To calculate the speed of the towel, the formula v = 4.6(2πR) was used, resulting in a speed of approximately 7.51 m/s. The initial calculations led to confusion, but the correct application of the formula clarified the solution. The centripetal force can be calculated using Fc = (mv^2)/r, confirming the towel's motion in a horizontal circle. Accurate calculations are essential for determining both speed and force in centripetal motion scenarios.
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Homework Statement


A wet towel, of mass 0.65 kg, travels in a horizontal circle of radius 26cm in the spin cycle of a washing machine. The frequency of rotation is 4.6Hz.

a)Name the force causing the centripetal acceleration. What object exerts that force?
b) What is the speed of the towel?
c) Determine the magnitude of the centripetal force on the towel.

Homework Equations



Fc=4pi^2mrf^2
Fc=(mv^2)/r

The Attempt at a Solution



I tried plugging in the values into the first equation and got 30.69 then i tried putting it into the second equation to solve for velocity but got 3.5 and the answer is 7.5. Someone please help me on this question.
 
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Probably some algebra error or arithmetic mistake.

Show us some intermediate steps.
 
equations are correct.
 
4.6hz means that the towel travels 4.6 of its circumference per second.

v=4.6(2piR)cm/s
=9.2 x 26 x pi cm/s
= 751cm/s
= 7.51m/s
 
which is correct answer!
 

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