Roller Coaster and Apparent Weight

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SUMMARY

The maximum speed at which a 1500kg rubber-tired car can navigate a banked highway curve with a radius of 70m and a banking angle of 15 degrees is 140.4 m/s. The static coefficient of friction for rubber on concrete is 1.0, which is crucial for calculating the forces involved. The correct formula to determine the maximum speed is derived from the equation F = mv²/R, where F represents the net force, m is the mass, v is the velocity, and R is the radius of the curve. This calculation confirms that the car can safely take the curve without sliding at the specified speed.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of circular motion dynamics
  • Knowledge of static friction coefficients
  • Familiarity with Newton's laws of motion
  • Basic algebra for solving equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the principles of circular motion in physics
  • Learn about the effects of banking angles on vehicle dynamics
  • Explore the calculations involving friction and normal forces
  • Investigate real-world applications of these concepts in automotive engineering
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Physics students, automotive engineers, and anyone interested in understanding vehicle dynamics and safety on curved roadways.

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Circular Motion

Situation:
A concrete highway curve of radius 70m is banked at a 15 degree angle.

Question:
What is the max speed with which a 1500kg rubber-tired car can take this curve without sliding?

Feedback:
I learned that the static coeffiecient of friction of rubber on concrete is 1.0 for this problem.

I tried net Force = StaticFrictionCoefficient(Normal Force)
Normal = Weight = Mass * Gravity

So I ended up with-
F = 1(1500*9.8) = 14700N
Then I did 14700 * 70cos(15).
Not the right answer... not sure what I'm doing, obviously
 
Last edited:
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.Answer:The correct equation to use for this problem is F = mv2/R, where m = mass of the car, v = velocity and R = radius of the highway curve. Plugging in the given values, we get: F = 1500 * v2 / 70 Solving for v, we get: v = sqrt(14700 * 70) = 140.4 m/s Therefore, the max speed with which a 1500kg rubber-tired car can take the highway curve without sliding is 140.4 m/s.
 

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