Question

A motorcyclist is able to ride on the vertical wall of a bowl-shaped track as shown. Friction of the wall on the tires is shown by the vertical red vector. (a) How does the magnitude of this vertical vector compare with the weight of the motorcycle and rider? (b) Does the horizontal red vector represent the normal force acting on the bike and rider, the centripetal force, both, or neither? Defend your answer.

Answer 1

The principles of equilibrium in a vertical direction(.Therefore the correct option is a) The magnitude of the vertical red vector representing friction is equal to the weight of the motorcycle and rider.

Explanation:

The vertical red vector represents the frictional force required for the motorcyclist to adhere to the vertical wall. In this scenario, for the motorcyclist to maintain their position on the wall without falling, the magnitude of the frictional force must equal the combined weight of the motorcycle and rider.

This equality ensures that the force pushing the motorcyclist downward (their weight) is balanced by the force pushing them upwards (friction).

Regarding the horizontal red vector, it does not represent the normal force or the centripetal force. Instead, it represents the horizontal component of the frictional force necessary to keep the motorcyclist moving in a circular path along the curved wall of the bowl-shaped track.

The normal force, in this case, is perpendicular to the wall and acts to counterbalance the gravitational force, while the centripetal force, responsible for the circular motion, is provided by the curvature of the track itself, not by this horizontal red vector.

Therefore the correct option is a) The magnitude of the vertical red vector representing friction is equal to the weight of the motorcycle and rider.

Answer 2

The magnitude of the vertical vector representing friction is equal to the weight of the motorcycle and rider. The horizontal red vector does not represent the normal force or centripetal force.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this scenario, the magnitude of the vertical red vector representing the friction of the wall on the tires is equal to the weight of the motorcycle and rider. This is because the frictional force is necessary to counteract the force of gravity and keep the motorcycle and rider on the wall.

The horizontal red vector does not represent the normal force acting on the bike and rider or the centripetal force. The normal force is the force exerted by the wall on the motorcycle and is perpendicular to the wall, while the centripetal force is directed towards the center of the circular path. The horizontal red vector is likely representing a different force, such as the force exerted by the motorcycle's engine on the wall.