A cyclist is moving in a circular track of radius 30 m with a speed of 15 m/s. W
Practice Questions
Q1
A cyclist is moving in a circular track of radius 30 m with a speed of 15 m/s. What is the net force acting on the cyclist if the mass of the cyclist is 60 kg?
180 N
120 N
90 N
60 N
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
A cyclist is moving in a circular track of radius 30 m with a speed of 15 m/s. What is the net force acting on the cyclist if the mass of the cyclist is 60 kg?
Correct Answer: 180 N
Step 1: Identify the given values. The radius of the circular track is 30 meters, the speed of the cyclist is 15 meters per second, and the mass of the cyclist is 60 kilograms.
Step 2: Write down the formula for centripetal force, which is F = mv²/r.
Step 3: Substitute the values into the formula. Here, m = 60 kg, v = 15 m/s, and r = 30 m.
Step 4: Calculate v² (15 m/s)² = 225 m²/s².
Step 5: Multiply the mass (60 kg) by v² (225 m²/s²): 60 kg * 225 m²/s² = 13500 kg·m²/s².
Step 6: Divide the result by the radius (30 m): 13500 kg·m²/s² / 30 m = 450 kg·m/s².
Step 7: The result of 450 kg·m/s² is the centripetal force, which is equal to 450 N.
Centripetal Force – The net force required to keep an object moving in a circular path, directed towards the center of the circle.
Newton's Second Law – The relationship between force, mass, and acceleration, which is fundamental in calculating net forces.
Circular Motion – The motion of an object in a circular path, which involves constant speed but changing velocity due to direction.
