How to Find Tangential Velocity and Acceleration on a Frictionless Curve?

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To find the tangential velocity of a 5 kg block on a frictionless curve at 60 degrees from the center, energy conservation principles should be applied to determine how far the block has fallen. Clarification is needed regarding the angle, as it may refer to the position relative to the top of the curve. For acceleration at the midpoint, it can be calculated as if the block is on a straight slope, using the tangent line's angle at that point. The discussion emphasizes using energy methods rather than force analysis for these calculations. Understanding the geometry of the curve is crucial for accurate results.
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:smile: I have a 5 kg block goin down a frictionless curve of radius 5 meters. I need to know the tangential velocity at 60 degrees from the center of the curve and its acceleration at the midpoint of the curve.

i have drawn a FBD of the block, where do i go from there?
 
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I would use energy instead of forces for this one.

I don't get what you mean at 60 degrees from the center of the curve... do you mean 60 degrees from the top of the quarter circle? In that case, you should use trig to figure out how far it's fallen.

For the acceleration, the acceleration at the midpoint is just as if the block was lying on a straight slope with equal angle to the horizontal as the tangent line is at that point
 
Office_Shredder said:
I would use energy instead of forces for this one.

I don't get what you mean at 60 degrees from the center of the curve... do you mean 60 degrees from the top of the quarter circle? In that case, you should use trig to figure out how far it's fallen.

For the acceleration, the acceleration at the midpoint is just as if the block was lying on a straight slope with equal angle to the horizontal as the tangent line is at that point


when i say 60 degrees i mean from the center of the half circle
 
How do i get the acceleration at the midpoint of the curve?
 
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