Having trouble with a centripetal force problem

AI Thread Summary
A 2.0 kg stone is being whirled in a horizontal circle with a rope length of 2.1 m, completing 50 revolutions per minute. The initial attempt to calculate the centripetal force using the formula m*v^2/r was unsuccessful due to confusion over the radius and the calculation of velocity. After clarifying the correct radius and discussing the relationship between linear and angular velocity, the user recalculated and arrived at the correct centripetal force of 120 N. The discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding the underlying physics concepts rather than just memorizing formulas.
jap129
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Homework Statement


A 2.0 kg stone is whirled in a horizontal circle on the end of a 2.1 m long rope. The stone travels around the circle 50 times each minute. What centripetal force is exerted by the rope on the stone?


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I've tried to work put the variables into the formula: m*v^2/r. But it didn't work. I've tried anything I could figure, and this is the only problem I have been stumped on from the last 50 problems I've done.
 
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I've tried to work put the variables into the formula: m*v^2/r. But it didn't work.

Can you show us your work? I'm fairly certain it should work...
 
jap129 said:
The stone travels around the circle 50 times each minute.

so then how many oscillations are in one second?
 
jegues said:
Can you show us your work? I'm fairly certain it should work...

50/60= 0.83

2*0.83^2/1.05 = 1.3 <That answer did not look correct to me. I probably did something wrong. But don't remember what.
 
2*0.83^2/1.05 = 1.3 <That answer did not look correct to me. I probably did something wrong. But don't remember what.

Where did you get that radius from? Isn't the rope 2.1m?
 
jegues said:
Where did you get that radius from? Isn't the rope 2.1m?

Woops. I was looking at a different problem when I wrote down the radius. So...
2*0.83^2/2.1 = 0.65
The answer is still wrong though.
 
You can compute its circumference and with it solve for a linear velocity. Then think about the relationship between linear and centripetal velocity.
 
Have you thought about the Fc=mw^2R equation? That might help.
 
Have you thought about the Fc=mw^2R equation? That might help.

I want you to solve for this equation yourself using your understanding of the relationship between linear and angular velocity.

I'd rather you understand how the equations came to be, rather than simply memorizing them.
 
Last edited:
  • #10
I believe I figured it out, the answer is 120 N. It makes sense now. Thanks for the help. :)
 

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