Ideal speed given radius and angle

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    Angle Radius Speed
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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves determining the ideal speed for navigating a banked curve with a specified radius and angle, specifically a 70 m radius curve banked at 30.0°.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply the equation v = √(g * r * tan(θ)) but encounters an undefined result when substituting values. Some participants question whether the issue lies in the calculator settings, particularly regarding the angle measurement.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring the implications of calculator settings on the calculations. One participant suggests that the original poster may not have their calculator set to degrees, which could lead to errors in the computation. There is acknowledgment of a potential misunderstanding regarding angle conversion.

Contextual Notes

There is a focus on ensuring the correct use of angle measurement in calculations, with discussions around the implications of using degrees versus radians. The original poster's confusion about the formula and calculator settings is noted, but no resolution is provided.

Mariesa Yeoman
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Homework Statement


What is the ideal speed to take a 70 m radius curve banked at a 30.0° angle?

Homework Equations


tan θ = v2/r g

The Attempt at a Solution


This has me stuck, when I attempted this I came to the equation v= √ g*r* tan Θ
But when I substitute in the variables, I enter then into the calculator and it show answer undefined? Is this not the correct formula? or am I simply doing it wrong?
 
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It has nothing to do with the formula. Be sure your calculator is set to degrees. In radians tan(30) is negative and trying to take the square root of that will cause an error.
 
I guess I am just unsure of how to do the problem?
 
Mariesa Yeoman said:
I guess I am just unsure of how to do the problem?
I would say @kuruman has almost surely identified what you are doing wrong.
Do you not know how to set your calculator to degrees instead of radians? If so, enter the angle in radians. 30° is π/6. Its tan should be 1/√3, about 0.5774.
 
Ok that took care of it, Thank you so much!
 

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