A model train with a mass of 1 kg1kg is moving along a track at 4 (cm)/s4cms. If the curvature of the track changes from a radius of 144 cm144cm to 60 cm60cm, by how much must the centripetal force applied by the tracks change?

1 Answer
Oct 2, 2017

The change in centripetal force is =0.0016N=0.0016N

Explanation:

The centripetal force is

F=(mv^2)/rF=mv2r

The mass, m=(1)kgm=(1)kg

The speed, v=(0.04)ms^-1v=(0.04)ms1

The radius, =(r) m=(r)m

The variation in centripetal force is

DeltaF=F_2-F_1

F_1=mv^2/r_1=1*0.04^2/1.44=0.0011N

F_2=mv^2/r_2=1*0.04^2/0.60=0.0027N

DeltaF=0.0027-0.0011=0.0016N