Maximum velocity on a banking curve formula

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the maximum velocity of a car on a banked curve, highlighting the importance of correctly determining the normal force. The user initially used an incorrect formula for normal force, leading to discrepancies in their calculations. They discovered that the normal force should account for the net force acting perpendicular to the incline, which differs from the simpler mg cosθ equation. This adjustment is crucial for accurately applying the centripetal force formula. Understanding these dynamics is essential for solving problems involving banked curves effectively.
oranboron
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/mechanics/imgmech/carbank.gif

I had a problem in my textbook asking me to find the maximum velocity for a car turning on a banked curve.

After i drew my freebody diagram i had the same formula for centripetal force as hyperphysics above (Fx).

However when i tried getting my result my answer was wrong... I didn't know what i was doing wrong so i searched hyperphyics and found their vmax formula turned incredibly different from mine. Then i saw that they had a second equation. I was able to finally figure out that they isolated for the normal force, n = mg/(costheta - usintheta) in Fy and substituted it into the Fx formula.

BUT the value for the normal force is different from what i had before. I had n = mgcostheta

Why couldn't i use that value for N in my version of Fx = Fcentripetal ?

Thank you for your help.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The normal force would only equal mg cosθ if there were no component of acceleration perpendicular to the incline, which is not the case here.
 
Ok, so if i understand it correctly. Since there is now a net force being applied to the centre and it has a component perpendicular to the incline. This perpendicular force itself is the value of N - mgcosθ ?

Thank you for your patience and help.
 
oranboron said:
Since there is now a net force being applied to the centre and it has a component perpendicular to the incline. This perpendicular force itself is the value of N - mgcosθ ?
Right, that's the component of the net force perpendicular to the incline.
 

Thread 'Average velocity as a weighted mean'

Hello everyone, Consider the problem in which a car is told to travel at 30 km/h for L kilometers and then at 60 km/h for another L kilometers. Next, you are asked to determine the average speed. My question is: although we know that the average speed in this case is the harmonic mean of the two speeds, is it also possible to state that the average speed over this 2L-kilometer stretch can be obtained as a weighted average of the two speeds? Best regards, DaTario
View full post »

Thread '1:1 versus 2:1 Mechanical Advantage debate'

The rope is tied into the person (the load of 200 pounds) and the rope goes up from the person to a fixed pulley and back down to his hands. He hauls the rope to suspend himself in the air. What is the mechanical advantage of the system? The person will indeed only have to lift half of his body weight (roughly 100 pounds) because he now lessened the load by that same amount. This APPEARS to be a 2:1 because he can hold himself with half the force, but my question is: is that mechanical...
View full post »

Thread 'Newton's first law?'

Some physics textbook writer told me that Newton's first law applies only on bodies that feel no interactions at all. He said that if a body is on rest or moves in constant velocity, there is no external force acting on it. But I have heard another form of the law that says the net force acting on a body must be zero. This means there is interactions involved after all. So which one is correct?
View full post »

Similar threads

I Confused about N*sin(theta) = (m*v^2)/r in banked curve
Replies
5
Views
2K
Downforce, banked turns, and friction
Replies
3
Views
2K
Which force is the centripetal one in a banked curve?
Replies
19
Views
5K
Centripetal force due to banked curves
Replies
8
Views
3K
What is the maximum velocity of a bullet at the instant it leaves the barrel?
Replies
5
Views
4K
How Does Normal Force Change as a Car Accelerates on a Banked Curve?
Replies
1
Views
2K
B Normal force in case of inclined plane and banked turn
Replies
3
Views
2K
Solving Banked Curve Problem: Max Velocity
Replies
12
Views
4K
Normal force on a car rounding a banked curve
Replies
2
Views
5K
Finding max velocity for a kart on a circular, banked track
Replies
2
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top