PHYSICS CHAPTER 6

Learning Outcome:
www.kmph.matrik.edu.my/physics

6.2 Centripetal force (3 hours)

At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
 Define centripetal force and use its formulae,

mv 2
Fc 
r
 Identify forces such as tension, T, friction, f, weight, W
and reaction, N that enable a body to perform circular
motion on a horizontal and vertical plane.
 Use the relationship of the forces above and centripetal
force.

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PHYSICS CHAPTER 6
Motion in a vertical circle B
Example 9 :

v
3.00 m


v
Figure 6.12
A
A small remote control car with mass 1.20 kg moves at a constant
speed of v = 15.0 m s1 in a vertical circle track of radius 3.00 m as
shown in Figure 6.12. Determine the magnitude of the reaction
force exerted on the car by the track at
a. point A,
b. point B.
(Given g = 9.81 m s2)
ANS. : 102 N ; 78.2 N 12345678
PHYSICS CHAPTER 6
Example 10 :
v

Figure 6.13 v
A rider on a Ferris wheel moves in a vertical circle of radius,
r = 8 m at constant speed, v as shown in Figure 6.13. If the time
taken to makes one rotation is 10 s and the mass of the rider is
60 kg, Calculate the normal force exerted on the rider
a. at the top of the circle,
b. at the bottom of the circle.
(Given g = 9.81 m s-2)
ANS. : 399 N ; 778 N 12345678
PHYSICS CHAPTER 6
Example 11 : 3.0 m s1 A

3.0 m s1

Figure 6.14 E 3.0 m s1

A sphere of mass 5.0 kg is tied to an inelastic string. It moves in a
vertical circle of radius 55 cm at a constant speed of 3.0 m s1 as
shown in Figure 6.14. By the aid of the free body diagram,
determine the tension in the string at points A, D and E.
(Given g = 9.81 m s-2)
ANS. : 32.8 N ; 81.8 N ; 131 N

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PHYSICS CHAPTER 6
Exercise 6.2 :
Use gravitational acceleration, g = 9.81 m s2
1. A cyclist goes around a curve of 50 m radius at a speed of
15 m s1. The road is banked at an angle  to the horizontal and
the cyclist travels at the right angle with the surface of the road.
The mass of the bicycle and the cyclist together equals 95 kg.
Calculate
a. the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration of the cyclist,
b. the magnitude of the normal force which the road exerts on
the bicycle and the cyclist,
c. the angle .
ANS. : 4.5 m s2; 1.02 kN; 24.6

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PHYSICS CHAPTER 6
Exercise 6.2 :
2. A ball of mass 0.35 kg is attached to the end of a horizontal
cord and is rotated in a circle of radius 1.0 m on a frictionless
horizontal surface. If the cord will break when the tension in it
exceeds 80 N, determine
a. the maximum speed of the ball,
b. the minimum period of the ball.
ANS. : 15.1 m s1; 0.416 s
3. A small mass, m is set on the surface m
of a sphere as shown in Figure 6.14.
If the coefficient of static friction is s θ
= 0.60, calculate the angle  would
the mass start sliding. O
ANS. : 31

Figure 6.14
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PHYSICS CHAPTER 6
Exercise 6.2 :
4. A ball of mass 1.34 kg is connected
by means of two massless string to
a vertical rotating rod as shown in
Figure 6.15. The strings are tied to
the rod and are taut. The tension in
the upper string is 35 N.
a. Sketch a free body diagram for
the ball.
b. Calculate
i. the magnitude of the tension
in the lower string,
ii. the nett force on the ball,
iii. the speed of the ball. Figure 6.15
ANS. : 8.74 N; 37.9 N (radially
inward); 6.45 m s1

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PHYSICS CHAPTER 6

THE END…
Next Chapter…
CHAPTER 7 :
Rotation of a rigid body

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