Centripetal Force Physics Example 4

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Example 4

medium
A 0.25 kg0.25 \text{ kg} ball moves in a circle at 6 m/s6 \text{ m/s} and experiences a centripetal force of 9 N9 \text{ N}. What is the radius of the circle?

Solution

  1. 1
    Use the centripetal force formula: Fc=mv2rF_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}
  2. 2
    Solve for radius: r=mv2Fc=0.25×629r = \frac{mv^2}{F_c} = \frac{0.25 \times 6^2}{9}
  3. 3
    r=0.25×369=99=1 mr = \frac{0.25 \times 36}{9} = \frac{9}{9} = 1 \text{ m}

Answer

r=1 mr = 1 \text{ m}
For uniform circular motion, increasing the radius reduces the required centripetal force for a fixed mass and speed. Rearranging the formula reveals the radius directly.

About Centripetal Force

The net inward force required to keep an object moving along a circular path, directed toward the centre of the circle, equal to mv2/rmv^2/r where.

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