The discussion revolves around a problem related to non-uniform circular motion, specifically involving a stunt car moving inside a ring. Participants are exploring the forces acting on the car at different points in its circular path and the implications of constant velocity in this context.
The discussion is active, with participants providing insights into the forces involved and questioning assumptions about acceleration and velocity. Some participants have offered reasoning related to centripetal force and the role of normal force, while others are seeking validation for their understanding and reasoning processes.
Participants are operating under the assumption of constant speed for the car, which raises questions about the nature of forces at different points in the circular motion. There is also a mention of the relationship between this scenario and similar situations involving planes flying in circular loops.
Those are the correct forces, but why would they add to 0? The car is accelerating!Krishan93 said:A free body diagram of the car at the bottom would just incorporate a downwards W force and an upwards N force together equalling 0, wouldn't it?
Doc Al said:Those are the correct forces, but why would they add to 0? The car is accelerating!
Yes. It's executing circular motion, so what kind of acceleration must exist?Krishan93 said:Accelerating as in change of direction?
You are told that the speed is constant.I would think that the bottom of the loop is the maximum speed of the car, past that half the car begins to decelerate, no?
Doc Al said:Yes. It's executing circular motion, so what kind of acceleration must exist?
You are told that the speed is constant.
Good!Krishan93 said:I think I got it. Knowing constant velocity did help.
Given the top of the loop circumstances, the only forces acting upon the car are N and W, together they equal the centripetal force.
Keeping the same velocity at the bottom, the N and W act against each other, but the centripetal force still has to equal that of when it was at the top in order to maintain circular motion.
Apparently N takes on a greater value to compensate I guess and I get an answer of 20.1
Similar considerations apply to anything moving in a vertical circle. (Of course, the speed of the plane will not necessarily be constant.)How's my reasoning? Is this the same reasoning with planes flying in a circular loop as well?