Question

QUESTION 1 : Uniform circular motion

Question 1 (uniform circular motion) A 1500 kg car is taking a left turn at a constant speed of 10 m/s. The radius of the turn is 12 meters a. What is the centripetal acceleration on the car? b. How much force is require to hold the car in that turn'? c. What force(s) is responsible for the centripetal force on the car?

Answer 1

a) The centripetal acceleration is given by
$a_{c}=\frac{v^2}{r}$
So,
$a_{c}=\frac{(10m/s)^2}{12m}=8.33 m/s^2$

b) Force required = $mass \times a_{c} = 1500 Kg \times 8.333 m/s^2= 12,500 N$

c) As a car makes a turn, the force of friction acting upon the turned wheels of the car provides centripetal force required for circular motion.