Why decompose the normal force instead of gravity in banked curves

  • Thread starter Thread starter starchaaser
  • Start date Start date
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
Sign up Log in
1 reply · 3K views
starchaaser
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Hi, first post here :)
sorry if this has been asked before but I couldn't find anything.

I'm doing some problems involving banking turns in uniform circular motion.

I'm slightly confused because up until know I have been decomposing the force due to gravity to solve problems with inclines... now here, the answer shows us decomposing the normal vector.

Why is this and how can I know which vector to decompose on future problems? Thanks for the replies
 

Discussion

Physics news on Phys.org
Depends on the problem. The idea is to do many problems, to get the feeling of it. There is no cooking recipes. You need to practice.

Cheers