- #1
Greywolfe1982
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Homework Statement
A car initially travels north and then turns to the left along a circular curve. This causes a package on the seat of the car to slide toward the right side of the car. Which of the following is true about the net force on the package while it is sliding?
1. The force is directed north.
2. There is not enough force directed toward the center of the circle to keep the package
from sliding.
3. There is not enough force tangential to the car’s path to keep the package from sliding.
4. There is not enough force directed north to keep the package from sliding.
5. The force is directed away from the center of the circle.
Homework Equations
N/A (I think? Conceptual question as far as I know)
The Attempt at a Solution
So from what I understand there is a centrifugal force that is created as the car turns, which wants to push the box outward, along the line perpendicular to the tangent of velocity. So I'll go over what I'm thinking for each answer -
1. Doesn't seem right at all to me. I believe the direction of the force is changing as the car is turning.
2. One of my first thoughts. Either friction or centripetal force (I'm thinking the latter) would be smaller than the centrifugal force causing the box to slide to the right.
3. Don't think this is right, because I'm not even sure of a force tangential to the path, just perpendicular to the tangent.
4. Again, I didn't think there was a force directed to the north...however two answers involving it make me question myself.
5. The second of my two best guesses - wouldn't the centrifugal force be directed away from the center?
I'm sure I'm missing something important - I assume there's a force I'm forgetting...but what is it?