Centripetal force with Conservation of Mass

In summary, to find the height and speed needed for a car to complete a loop with no friction, we can use the equation K(initial) + V(initial)= K(final) + V(final). The answers are h=5/2*r and v= √5gr, which can be found using centripetal acceleration.
  • #1
nhmockus
5
0
1. Homework Statement : Essentially it is a loop with a ramp leading to it. Find the height h the car would start from in order to complete the loop. Also find the speed the car would have to be at to complete the loop Your answer should be in terms of r. No friction

2. Homework Equations : I know I need to use the equation K(initial) + V(initial)= K(final) + V(final)


3. The Attempt at a Solution : They give us the answers h=5/2*r and v= √5gr but I don't understand how to solve for these
 
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  • #2
welcome to pf!

hi nhmockus! welcome to pf! :smile:

start by using centripetal acceleration to find the speed needed at the top of the loop :wink:
 

1. What is centripetal force?

Centripetal force is a force that acts towards the center of a circular motion. It is responsible for keeping an object moving in a circular path instead of moving in a straight line.

2. How is centripetal force related to conservation of mass?

According to the law of conservation of mass, mass cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. In the case of centripetal force, the mass of an object remains constant as it moves in a circular path, meaning that the force acting on the object must also remain constant. This is known as the conservation of mass in a circular motion.

3. Can centripetal force be calculated using conservation of mass?

Yes, centripetal force can be calculated using the equation F=mv^2/r, where F is the centripetal force, m is the mass of the object, v is the velocity, and r is the radius of the circular motion. This equation incorporates the conservation of mass principle by keeping the mass constant in the calculation.

4. Can centripetal force be applied to any type of circular motion?

Yes, centripetal force can be applied to any type of circular motion, whether it is uniform circular motion (constant speed) or non-uniform circular motion (changing speed). As long as there is a force acting towards the center of the circular path, it can be considered a centripetal force.

5. How does centripetal force affect the motion of objects in space?

In space, objects are often in a state of free fall, meaning they are constantly accelerating towards the center of a larger mass (such as a planet or star). In this case, centripetal force is responsible for keeping the object in a circular orbit around the larger mass. Without this force, the object would continue in a straight line instead of orbiting.

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