A model train with a mass of 4 kg is moving along a track at 6 (cm)/s. If the curvature of the track changes from a radius of 25 cm to 15 cm, by how much must the centripetal force applied by the tracks change?

1 Answer
Feb 9, 2018

The change in centrpetal force is =0.0384N

Explanation:

The centripetal force is

vecF_C=(mv^2)/r*vecr

The mass is of the train m=4kg

The velocity of the train is v=0.06ms^-1

The radii of the tracks are

r_1=0.25m

and

r_2=0.15m

The variation in the centripetal force is

DeltaF=F_2-F_1

The centripetal forces are

||F_1||=4*0.06^2/0.25=0.0576N

||F_2||=4*0.06^2/0.15=0.096N

DeltaF=F_2-F_1=0.096-0.0576=0.0384N