Confused in diffferent forces involved in circular motion

In summary, the conversation discusses the different forces involved in circular motion, including gravity, weight, and centripetal force. It explains how these forces are related to mass, acceleration, and velocity, and how they are represented by various symbols and notations. The net force in circular motion is equal to the sum of the centripetal force and the tangential force, and in uniform circular motion, the centripetal force is equal to the mass times the velocity squared divided by the radius of the circle.
  • #1
shaks
26
0
Hi,

I am trying to solve one problem of circular motion and I searched on Internet and found many things and I am confused about different forces or I think same force is shown as different symbol. What I learned is as follows:Force = F = ma (horizontal movement - where height is not involved)
Force = F = mg (vertical movement- where height is involved -circular/rotational motion)

Centripetal Force = Fc = m*ac (circular or rotational motion)
Normal Force = Fn or T or N = Fc + mg (circular or rotational motion)
Normal Force = Fn or T or N = Fc - mg (circular or rotational motion)

Sometimes there is also Fnet, Fg used. Or might be different site or man explaining uses different symbol for same force. Can someone please explain. Fg is I think gravity force and that's already calculated somewhere like mg or m*ac. So other than standard gravity force and frictional force I am confused.

Mine problem.
I want to calculate which forces are working on roller coaster at top and bottom in 100% unified circular motion. I am not student but my project is exactly like roller coaster i.e. object/mass moving in vertical circle. I want to calculate how much net force is acting on top and how much on bottom. So can find power according to force value.Shaks
 
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  • #2
You have seen the force calculated for different circumstances. The different symbols are just notation.
The definition is from Newton's second law: ##\vec F = m\vec a##
... notice that both force and acceleration are vectors? This is key.

So gravity acts straight down in proportion to the mass, so ##\vec F = mg \text{<down>}## (which is also called "weight") ... notice that force has a magnitude and a direction. This may be called ##F_g## or Bob or Sue or anything that takes the author's fancy. The label is not as important as the concept.

If you want to lift something against gravity, at a constant speed, then you must apply an equal and opposite force during the motion... the ##\vec F= -\vec F_g = mg\text{<upwards>}## Notice that I had to use ##F_g## for gravity here, so that I can distinguish the force of gravity from the applied force of the human doing the work.

The total force on the object is ##\vec F + \vec F_g = (mg-mg)\text{<upwards>} = 0##
... for a constant speed, the total force must be zero, non-zero forces make acceleration.

... for something this simple, the direction is often left to the context. i.e. if someone says the weight is 100N, you don't need to be told that the direction is downwards.

Velocity is a vector too. You can change velocity by changing speed (the magnitude) or by changing direction.
If a mass m turns a corner but maintains the same speed, then it's velocity changes ...
A changing velocity is an acceleration so there must be an unbalanced force.

The condition for an object to travel on a circular path is that the force has to point to the center of the circle, and it has to have a magnitude related to the speed that it is traveling and the radius of the circle. But it is still F=ma. It is always F=ma. If the force is different from that condition, thenthe motion just won't be in a circle. It'll be a spiral or something.
 
  • #3
Thanks for replying and trying to explain these basics to me. Can you please answer these questions.

1. When we are calculating something on horizontal movement then we say w=mg (Weight = mass*gravity) and when we are calculating something on vertical movement then we say F=mg (Force = mass * gravity). It means both are same we say it "w" or "F" or "Force" or "Fg" its same, right? Just due to type of motion we use different notations otherwise its same thing that's force. Weight is also a force that in physics terms.

2. In circular motion "net force" = Fg (mass*gravity) + Fc (centripetal force), right?

Shaks
 
  • #4
1. When we are calculating something on horizontal movement then we say w=mg (Weight = mass*gravity) and when we are calculating something on vertical movement then we say F=mg (Force = mass * gravity). It means both are same we say it "w" or "F" or "Force" or "Fg" its same, right? Just due to type of motion we use different notations otherwise its same thing that's force. Weight is also a force that in physics terms.
None of the above are strictly correct because force is a vector - so the direction must be included somehow.
When those equations get used, the direction is usually given in the context - which you have excluded above, resulting in confusion.

When we talk about weight, we are talking about w=mg<down>

When we talk about moving vertically, we are usually referring to an applied force - i.e. not from gravity. If the motion is vertical at a constant speed, then the applied force has to be equal and opposite to the weight, so we'd say that F = -w = -mg<down> = mg<up> (since <up> = -<down>).

This is why different labels may be applied in different circumstances: to distinguish them. It is important to distinguish between the force of gravity and the force of some other object that just happens to have the same magnitude.

Further, vertical motion need not be at a constant speed, in which case F > mg<up> would mean acceleration upwards and F < mg<up> would mean acceleration downwards.

2. In circular motion "net force" = Fg (mass*gravity) + Fc (centripetal force), right?
No. The net force is the sum of all the forces on an object. The component of the net force which points towards the center is called the centripetal force, the rest is called the tangential force.
So ##\vec F_{net} = \vec F_c + \vec F_t##
In circular motion, the net force must point to the center of the circle ... so, ##F_t = 0##.
In uniform circular motion, ##F_c=mv^2/r##

(Note: last two equations are magnitudes, the directions are implied by the context.)
 
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  • #5
Thank you man, I have learn something by above post.

One thing that is "tension", tension is only involved when object is in unified circular motion but tied with cable, rope, rod, etc. In roller coaster example, tension is not involved? In simple words that leads to my project I want to calculate how much force is working (i.e. required) at bottom to move object in unified circular motion. Fc = mv2/r I already know I want to calculate net force required?

Shaks
 
  • #6
Tension is not restricted to cables, but anything which is pulled on at each end.
In real engineering you also have to deal with stress and strain and shear etc.

For a coaster going around a loop - the force needed to make the motion uniform will vary with the position on the loop. At the bottom of the loop, you need only what little force is needed to exactly match friction - in idealized frictionless model that would be zero. The normal reaction force from the tracks already points to the center.
 
  • #7
Simon Bridge said:
Tension is not restricted to cables, but anything which is pulled on at each end.
In real engineering you also have to deal with stress and strain and shear etc.
Clear

Simon Bridge said:
For a coaster going around a loop - the force needed to make the motion uniform will vary with the position on the loop. At the bottom of the loop, you need only what little force is needed to exactly match friction - in idealized frictionless model that would be zero. The normal reaction force from the tracks already points to the center.

Can you tell me how to do this? My aim is to calculate power required to move object?
 
  • #8
Decide on the speed around the track - use this to work out the vertical component of velocity as a function of time.
The power needed at time t is then the instantaneous rate that gravitational potential energy is changing ... (+ friction).
 

What is circular motion?

Circular motion is the movement of an object along a circular path or trajectory. It is a type of motion where the direction of the object's velocity is constantly changing, but its speed remains constant.

What forces are involved in circular motion?

In circular motion, there are two main forces involved: centripetal force and centrifugal force. Centripetal force is the inward force that keeps an object moving in a circular path, while centrifugal force is the outward force that acts in the opposite direction.

What is the difference between centripetal and centrifugal force?

The main difference between these two forces is their direction. Centripetal force acts towards the center of the circle, while centrifugal force acts in the opposite direction, away from the center. Additionally, centripetal force is necessary to maintain circular motion, while centrifugal force is a reaction force to the centripetal force.

How do you calculate the centripetal force?

The formula for calculating centripetal force is F = m * v^2 / r, where F is the force, m is the mass of the object, v is the velocity, and r is the radius of the circular path. This formula shows that the centripetal force is directly proportional to the mass and velocity of the object and inversely proportional to the radius of the circle.

What are some real-life examples of circular motion?

Some common examples of circular motion include the motion of planets around the sun, the motion of a ball in a game of bowling, the motion of a car around a curved track, and the motion of a satellite in orbit around the Earth.

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