Find the minimum velocity for bucket in circular motion

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
2 replies · 6K views
Tui
Messages
15
Reaction score
0
Hey, first of all I'm not looking for the answer I just want a nudge in the right direction :)

Homework Statement


"a bucket of water is rotated in a vertical circle of radius 1.00m. What is the buckets minimum speed at the top of the circle if no water is to spill out?


Homework Equations


I'm not really sure where to start so.. :|


The Attempt at a Solution



I figure I must find the size of the force pulling the bucket downwards and equate that with the one pushing the water against the bucket? (I realize I've probably stuffed some force up here. this is confusing for me :))

If anyone could help with the equations I need then I can hopefully work this out on my own. Thanks a lot in advance
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hey could it be that a(centrefugal or whatever :P) = v^2 / r

So I put -9.8 in for acceleration and work out v?
 
We need to pull the water to make it rotate or centripetal force
Since at the top the gravity is pulling the water down.

If mg=mv^/2, the resultant force is just to keep it rotating and not going anywhere else.