Question

In a loop-the-loop ride a car goes around a vertical, circular loop at a constant speed. The car has a mass m = 268 kg and moves with speed v = 16.24 m/s. The loop-the-loop has a radius of R = 10.5 m. 1) What is the magnitude of the normal force on the care when it is at the bottom of the circle? (But as the car is accelerating upward.)

Answer 1

What I don't understand is the centripetal force. How do we solve for the normal force?

Answer 2

The centripetal force is the net force towards the center of the circle. If something is travelling in a circular path, then this force = mv²/r.

What are the vertical forces acting on the cart when it's at the bottom of the loop-the-loop?

Answer 3

Oh, so when youre dealing with circles the force=[mv^2\]/R. Cool. Now, since the cart is at the bottom, the normal force is perpendicular to the car. Correct?

Answer 4

Normal force is perpendicular to the edge of the circle (points towards the center)