How Do You Calculate Centripetal Acceleration and Friction for a Car on a Curve?

AI Thread Summary
To calculate centripetal acceleration for a car rounding a curve, use the formula ac = vt^2/r, where v is the velocity and r is the radius. The force maintaining this acceleration can be found using Fc = mv^2/r, where m is the mass of the car. The weight of the car is 13500 N, which translates to a mass of approximately 1376.15 kg when divided by the acceleration due to gravity. The minimum coefficient of static friction required for safe navigation of the curve is calculated using the equation Fc = μs * Fn, resulting in a value of 0.0985. Understanding these calculations is essential for solving problems related to centripetal motion and friction.
chamonix
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Homework Statement


A 13500 N car traveling at 50.0 km/h rounds a curve of radius 2.00x10^2 m. Find the following:
a). The centripetal acceleration of the car.
b). The force that maintains centripetal acceleration
c). the minmum coefficient of static friction between the tires and the road that will allow the car to round the curve safely.


Homework Equations


a). ac=vt^2/r
b) i think i would use: Fc=mvt^2/r but I am unsure.
c) i do not know this equation.

The Attempt at a Solution


For a). I have: 14^2/200=0.965
for b). I know the answer is 1.33x10^3 but I am still having difficulties trying to solve this.
for c) I know the answer is 0.0985 but I still have to figure out b). first. Please help me, any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
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a) is correct
does the 13500 N car refer to its mass?
 
I think so...the question just states "a 13500 N car..." so I was thinking that F=ma so mass=13500/.965=13989.6. But I'm not for sure.
 
chamonix said:
I think so...the question just states "a 13500 N car..." so I was thinking that F=ma so mass=13500/.965=13989.6. But I'm not for sure.

13500 N is the weight of the car, in other words the gravitational force on it. To find the mass of the car, divide the weight by the acceleration of gravity, mass= 13500N/9.80m/s^2

Then multiply this mass by v^2 to find the centripetal acceleration
 
So the mass came out to be...1376.15 kg. Then I used the Fc=mv^2/r equation and got: 1348.63.
Then I use the equation Fc=mus*Fn. 1.34x10^3/9.8*1376.15=.0985.
 
Last edited:
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