Question

a certain light truck can go around a flat curve having a radius of 150 m with a maximum speed of 30.5 m/s. with what maximum speed can it go around a curve having a radius of 82.0 m? m/s

Answer 1

The maximum speed needed by the truck to go round a curve having a radius of 82.0 m is 508.4 m/s

How to calculate the maximum speed needed?

First, we shall obtain the centripetal acceleration of the truck. This is shown below:

• Radius of curve (r) = 150 m
• Maximum speed (v) = 30.5 m/s
• Centripetal acceleration (a) =?

a = v² / r

a = 30.5² / 150

a = 6.2 m/s²

Finally, we shall obtain the maximum speed needed by the truck to go round a curve having a radius of 82.0 m. Details below:

• Radius of curve (r) = 82.0 m
• Centripetal acceleration (a) = 6.2 m/s²
• Maximum speed (v) = ?

v = ar

v = 6.2 × 82

v = 508.4 m/s

Thus, the maximum speed needed is 508.4 m/s