Circular motion question?

  • Thread starter fightboy
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  • #1
fightboy
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A 400kg roller coaster cart travels along the inside of a vertical circular track of radius 10 m. At its highest point it moves at 20 m/s. Friction between the cart and track is negligible.
Find the cart's speed one quarter of a loop later (when it's at the same height as the loop's center).
I know there is radial acceleration due to the change of the velocity vector around the circular path, but how do I know the speed is changing? Also how can I determine what the speed will be at that exact point along the circular path? Any help is appreciated! I'm really confused on how to set up this problem
 

Answers and Replies

  • #2
Simon Bridge
Science Advisor
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The tools you can bring to bear are:
1. your understanding of circular motion
2. a free-body diagram
3. conservation of energy
 
  • #3
fightboy
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ah ok i forget to apply the conservation of energy equations to this problem, I'll give it a go thanks!
 

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