# Friction and centripetal force

1. Feb 24, 2005

### Vlyandra

I feel like there's not enough information to solve this:

A child slides down a slide with a 29 degree incline, and at the bottom her speed is precisely two-thirds what it would have been if the slide had been frictionless. Calculate the coeffieicnt of kinetic friction between the slide and the child.

Also, I can't explain why, in those "rotor-rides" at the carnival where you're spun around fast enough to overcome static friction and not slide down, why you feel like you're being pressed against the wall but you're really not. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

2. Feb 24, 2005

### stunner5000pt

Welcome to the forums!

However in order to get help you need to SHOW US what progress you have made since we dont provide solutions we simply guide you along the way

ok first of all lets just assume that the child started to slide from rest

so then if there was no friction involved
$$\Delta K + \Delta U = 0$$

calculate the velocity (use variables only)
the height change you used here is somehow related to the length of the slide itself
Now that you have a velocity 2/3 of this velocity is the velocity you will use in the next part

assume ther was friction

$$\Delta K + \Delta U = W_{f} = F_{f} d = \mu F_{N} l$$

where L is the length of the slide
sub in what you have so far for the velocity (remember to square it!) you know the change in potential energy.

Draw a fre body body diagram of the child nad figure out the normal force and see waht cancels out. Your answer should have no need for the mass or the length of the slide.

3. Feb 24, 2005

### maverick280857

For the second problem, I'll give you a hint: You get pressed against the wall right? What kind a reference frame are you in? What kind of a reference frame is a person on the ground in? What is the difference? (Sorry for making it look all so obvious...but you still gotta reason it yourself mate).