A model train with a mass of 7 kg7kg is moving along a track at 12 (cm)/s12cms. If the curvature of the track changes from a radius of 32 cm32cm to 36 cm36cm, by how much must the centripetal force applied by the tracks change?

1 Answer
Mar 25, 2018

The change in centripetal force is =0.035N=0.035N

Explanation:

The centripetal force is

vecF_C=(mv^2)/r*vecrFC=mv2rr

The mass is of the train m=7kgm=7kg

The velocity of the train is v=0.12ms^-1v=0.12ms1

The radii of the tracks are

r_1=0.32mr1=0.32m

and

r_2=0.36mr2=0.36m

The variation in the centripetal force is

DeltaF=F_2-F_1

The centripetal forces are

||F_1||=7*0.12^2/0.32=0.315N

||F_2||=7*0.12^2/0.36=0.280N

DeltaF=F_1-F_2=0.315-0.280=0.035N