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Physics
Classical Physics
Mechanics
How can gravity be greater than the centripetal force?
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[QUOTE="Bandersnatch, post: 5803246, member: 399360"] Centripetal force is just some value the sum of all actual forces must have in order to make something go in circles. These forces here are the weight and the reaction (normal) force. They can be lower or higher than the centripetal force, but only if they together are exactly equal to it will the car follow a circular path. So, if weight at the top is larger than the required value of centripetal force, then so is the sum of weight and reaction force, and the car will follow a different trajectory than circular (=it will detach from the track and fall). Once again, the sum of all forces being equal to centripetal force is the [U]condition[/U] for circular motion. If these forces don't meet this condition, then there's no circular motion. Is it? At the top you'd have ##W+F_c=R_t##. At the Bottom you'd have ##W-F_c=R_b## And yet, ##R_t<R_b##. [/QUOTE]
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Classical Physics
Mechanics
How can gravity be greater than the centripetal force?
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