# Uniform Circular Motion.

1. Jan 5, 2010

### nahanksh

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
A car, which weighs 1000 N, travels over a bumpy road with a constant speed. Gravity acts. The road at point B is in the shape of a circle with a radius of 100 meters.
http://online.physics.uiuc.edu/cgi/courses/shell/common/showme.pl?courses/phys211/oldexams/exam1/sp08/fig21.gif [Broken]

Which one of these statements correctly relates the force of the car on the road at points A (a valley) and B (the top of a hill)?

(a) The magnitude of the force of the car on the road is larger at point A than it is at point B.
(b) The magnitude of the force of the car on the road is larger at point B than it is at point A.

2. Relevant equations
a = v^2/r^2 = w^2*r

3. The attempt at a solution

I thought at the point A, it's considered as the lowest point of circular path, while
the point B is considered as the highest point.

So, at A Weight is somewhat canceled with the tension(thinking about uniform circular path) but at B weight is added to the tension..

That's why i thought B has larger force than at point A....

What's wrong in my attempt..?

Thanks.

Last edited by a moderator: May 4, 2017
2. Jan 5, 2010

### rock.freak667

At point B, the centripetal force equation is

$$F_c= mg-N_B$$

where N is the normal reaction. What is the equation at A?

3. Jan 7, 2010

### nahanksh

Isn't it F= (N)a - mg at A?

But I'm still confused it seems to me that normal force is the same for both points...

It's not the same, is it?

4. Jan 7, 2010

### rock.freak667

So at A, NA= mv2/r +mg

and at B, NB=mg-mv2/r

which one will be bigger?

5. Jan 9, 2010

### nahanksh

Thanks a lot.
I've got it !!