Finding the force given the mass and radius.

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the force acting on a roller-coaster car given its mass and radius. A user initially attempted to solve the problem but arrived at an incorrect answer due to neglecting one of the forces involved. The solution emphasizes the importance of drawing a free body diagram to visualize all forces acting on the system, which includes gravitational force and centripetal force.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's laws of motion
  • Knowledge of free body diagrams
  • Familiarity with gravitational and centripetal forces
  • Basic physics concepts related to mass and acceleration
NEXT STEPS
  • Study how to draw and interpret free body diagrams
  • Learn about gravitational force calculations in physics
  • Research centripetal force and its applications in circular motion
  • Explore problem-solving techniques for dynamics in roller-coaster physics
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of forces acting on objects in motion, particularly in the context of roller-coaster design and analysis.

ilc
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The attachment shows my approach to this problem, however, the answer is incorrect.

can anyone explain to me how i should be thinking of this problem?
 

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ilc said:
The attachment shows my approach to this problem, however, the answer is incorrect.

can anyone explain to me how i should be thinking of this problem?
attachment.php?attachmentid=51318&d=1348976198.jpg

Hello ilc. Welcome to PF!

Draw a free body diagram for the roller-coaster car.

There are two forces acting in the car.

You only accounted for one of them.
 

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