Centripetal force on a car
A 1,000 kg car rounds a curve of radius 50 m at 20 m/s. What centripetal force is required?
Answer B: explanation for every choice
A
This uses mv/r instead of mv²/r.
B
Correct. F = mv²/r = (1,000)(400)/50 = 8,000 N.
C
20,000 kg·m/s is the car's momentum (mv), not a force.
D
This leaves out dividing by r: mv² = 400,000.
TakeawayFc = mv²/r. Speed is squared.
Equation usedCentripetal acceleration and force
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