Normal force acting on an loop?

AI Thread Summary
The normal force acting on a roller coaster at the top of a loop is not always zero; it is zero only when the coaster is just about to fall, meaning it has barely made it through the loop. At other points in the loop, the normal force will vary depending on the coaster's speed and the gravitational force acting on it. The discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding the dynamics of forces in circular motion. Overall, the normal force is a critical factor in analyzing roller coaster physics.
slammer
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
Im trying to find the normal force that acts on an roller coaster when going aruond a loop. when the roller coaster is at the top the Fn is always 0 right? And is that the only time its 0?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
slammer said:
Im trying to find the normal force that acts on an roller coaster when going aruond a loop. when the roller coaster is at the top the Fn is always 0 right? And is that the only time its 0?

Np. it is not necessarily equal to zero! It's zero only if it is just about to fall (or, in other words, if it barely made it through th eloop)
 

Thread 'Errors and significant figures'

I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
View full post »
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
View full post »

Similar threads

Why does the speed change at the bottom of the loop-the-loop?
Replies
5
Views
2K
Speed at the top of an elliptical roller coaster loop
Replies
4
Views
3K
Would a marble need the same speed as a car at the bottom of a vertical loop?
Replies
7
Views
2K
Proper use of inequality symbols in equations to do with circular motion
Replies
2
Views
1K
Question Regarding Circular Motion and Normal Forces
Replies
2
Views
3K
Understanding the Minimum Speed to Keep Carriage on Tracks in a Loop
Replies
5
Views
2K
Static equilibrium | Uniform sphere on incline | Determining friction
Replies
43
Views
2K
Centripetal Forces and Roller Coasters
Replies
1
Views
2K
Super Fun Rollercoaster Problem
Replies
3
Views
2K
Normal force at the top of a vertical loop -- Circular Motion Dynamics
Replies
8
Views
6K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top