Normal Force of a skateboarder at the bottom of a circular ramp

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SUMMARY

The normal force exerted on a skateboarder at the bottom of a circular ramp with a radius of 3.75 m and a mass of 47.0 kg can be calculated using Newton's second law and the principles of circular motion. The skateboarder starts from rest, and energy conservation can be applied to find the velocity at the bottom of the ramp. The normal force is the sum of the gravitational force and the centripetal force required to keep the skateboarder in circular motion. The correct formula to use is F_normal = mg + (mv^2/r), where m is the mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, v is the velocity at the bottom, and r is the radius of the arc.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's second law of motion
  • Knowledge of circular motion dynamics
  • Familiarity with energy conservation principles
  • Basic algebra for solving equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of centripetal force in circular motion
  • Learn how to apply conservation of energy in mechanical systems
  • Explore examples of normal force calculations in physics
  • Investigate the effects of friction on circular motion
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of forces acting on objects in circular motion, particularly in practical scenarios like skateboarding.

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A skateboard track has the form of a circular arc with a 3.75 m radius. A 47.0 kg skateboarder starts from rest at the top of the circular arc. What is the normal force exerted on the skateboarder at the bottom of the circular arc?
I tried using conservation of energy to solve for v
mgh=1/2 mv^2
and then I tried plugging that in for F=mv^2/r but it didn't work. How are you supposed to do this problem?
 
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The weight of the skateboarder is also part of the normal force.
 
So how do I factor that in with the other force equation?
 

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