Help with centripetal force and friction question please

In summary: The resultant acceleration would be a = v^2/r + a tangential component of 2.00 m/s^2 or a total of 6.86 m/s^2.
  • #1
takelight2
12
1
Homework Statement
A race car enters a flat 200-m radius curve at a speed of 20.0 m/s while increasing its speed at a constant 2.00 m/s2. If the coefficient of static friction is 0.700, what will the speed of the car be when the car begins to slide?

a- 31.5 m/s
b- 24.3 m/s
c- 28.7 m/s
d- 36.2 m/s
e- 37.1 m/s
Relevant Equations
fc = mv^2/r
Ff = kN
Ff = Fc
(mv^2)/r = kmg
(v^2)/r = kg
v^2 = kgr
v^2 = 0.7*9.8*200
v = 37.04 m/s

I chose option e, and its wrong. What am i doing wrong here?
 
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  • #2
takelight2 said:
Homework Statement:: A race car enters a flat 200-m radius curve at a speed of 20.0 m/s while increasing its speed at a constant 2.00 m/s2. If the coefficient of static friction is 0.700, what will the speed of the car be when the car begins to slide?

a- 31.5 m/s
b- 24.3 m/s
c- 28.7 m/s
d- 36.2 m/s
e- 37.1 m/s
Relevant Equations:: fc = mv^2/r
Ff = kN

Ff = Fc
(mv^2)/r = kmg
(v^2)/r = kg
v^2 = kgr
v^2 = 0.7*9.8*200
v = 37.04 m/s

I chose option e, and its wrong. What am i doing wrong here?
There is a tangential component of acceleration. What is the magnitude of the acceleration vector?
 
  • #3
Chestermiller said:
There is a tangential component of acceleration. What is the magnitude of the acceleration vector?
Tangential acceleration or centripetal acceleration, its a = v^2/r. So would be, 37.04^2/200 = 6.86 m/s^2. How does that help though?
 
  • #4
takelight2 said:
Tangential acceleration or centripetal acceleration, its a = v^2/r. So would be, 37.04^2/200 = 6.86 m/s^2. How does that help though?
Tangential acceleration is different from centripetal acceleration. Only the centripetal acceleration is given by v2/r. What you are doing wrong here is that you are ignoring the tangential component of the acceleration as @Chestermiller remarked.
 
  • #5
takelight2 said:
Tangential acceleration or centripetal acceleration, its a = v^2/r.
Tangential means in this case, the effort that each of the driver tires make rearwards, in order to increase the forward velocity of the car.
That force consumes some of the available “lateral traction” of the contact patch of that tire.

Your response would be correct for a tire that is rolling at constant forward velocity
If the driver is accelerating hard, adding significant torque to those driver tires, they will have diminished capability to stand lateral forces of hard cornering.
Therefore, the car will slide sideways at a lower velocity than that of option e).

traction-circle.gif
 
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  • #6
takelight2 said:
Tangential acceleration or centripetal acceleration, its a = v^2/r. So would be, 37.04^2/200 = 6.86 m/s^2. How does that help though?
##v^2/r## is the radial (centripetal) component of acceleration. The problem statement says there is also a tangential component of acceleration (i.e., in the direction tangent to the circular path, normal to the radial direction) of 2.00 m/s^2. What is the resultant acceleration?
 
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FAQ: Help with centripetal force and friction question please

What is centripetal force?

Centripetal force is a force that acts on an object moving in a circular path, directed towards the center of the circle. This force is responsible for keeping the object in its circular motion.

How is centripetal force related to friction?

Friction is a force that opposes motion between two surfaces in contact. In the case of circular motion, friction acts as the centripetal force, providing the necessary inward force to keep the object moving in a circular path.

What factors affect the magnitude of centripetal force?

The magnitude of centripetal force depends on the mass of the object, the speed of the object, and the radius of the circular path. The greater the mass and speed of the object, or the smaller the radius of the circle, the greater the centripetal force required.

How does centripetal force affect the motion of an object?

Centripetal force causes an object to continuously change direction, resulting in circular motion. Without this force, the object would travel in a straight line instead.

Can centripetal force be calculated?

Yes, centripetal force can be calculated using the formula Fc = mv²/r, where Fc is the centripetal force, m is the mass of the object, v is the speed of the object, and r is the radius of the circular path.

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