Question

A car with a mass of 1,500 kilograms is moving around a circular curve at a uniform velocity of 16 m/s. The curve has a radius of 100 meters. What's the centripetal force on the car?

Answer 1

The centripetal force in a circular motion is given by:

`F_C = m (v^2)/(r)`
where m is the mass of the object, v its speed and r the radius of the circular path.
Using the data of this problem, m=1500 kg, v=16 m/s and r=100 m, and replacing them inside the formula, we find the value of the centripetal force:

`F_C = (1500 kg) ((16 m/s)^2)/(100 m)=3840 N`

Answer 2

Centripetal force can be computed using this formula.


`f = (mv^(2) )/(r)`

where:
f= centripetal force
m = mass
v = velocity
r = radius

Everything you need is already and all you have to do is input it into your formula:
m = 1,500 kg
v = 16m/s
r = 100 m


`f = ((1,500kg)(16m/s)^(2) )/(100m)`

`f = (1,500kg)(256m^(2)/s^(2)) )/(100m)`

`f = (384,000kg.m^(2)/s^(2) )/(100m)`

`f = 3,840 kg.m/s^(2)` or
`f = 3,840 N`