Problem involving centripetal force of a circle

In summary, the conversation discusses a ball swinging in a circle with a given mass, radius, and period. The speed, acceleration, and centripetal force of the ball are calculated, but the mass of the central object, the angle of the cord with the vertical, and the length of the cord are still unknown. The solution involves using Pythagoras' theorem to find the force of tension in the string and considering the tension force to be equal to the sum of the centripetal force and the upward force necessary to counteract gravity on the ball.
  • #1
pokeefer
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Homework Statement



Here is a diagram:
http://i55.tinypic.com/k18g14.jpg

A ball of mass 0.75 kg on the end of a cord is swung in a circle of radius 1.5 m with a period of 1.5 s as shown in the diagram.

a.) What is the speed of the ball?

b.) What is the acceleration of the ball?

c.) What centripetal force must be exerted by the cord to keep the ball in orbit?

d.) What is the mass of the central object? (Hint: Use Pythagoras' theorem to calculate the force of tension in the string.)

e.) What angle does the cord make with the vertical?

f.) How long is the cord, L?

Homework Equations



Velocity = 2(pie)r / T (T = period in seconds)

Acceleration centripetal = v^2 / r
Force centripetal = mv^2 / r

The Attempt at a Solution



I know all parts except for d, e and fa.) velocity of ball is 6.28 m/s

b.) centripetal acceleration of ball is 26.3 m/s^2

c.) centripetal force of ball is 19.7 N

d.) ??

e.) ?

f.) ?

Thanks
 
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  • #2
The force of gravity on the hanging central weight provides the tension force in the string to the ball. This includes both the centripetal force and the upward force necessary to counteract gravity on the ball.
spinning.jpg

The ball is not accelerating vertically, so the upward component of T equals the mg down. The tension in the string and thus the weight of the hanging weight can be calculated from the known mg and Fc. Careful with the angle - question asks for angle with vertical, so likely something larger than 45 degrees.
 

Related to Problem involving centripetal force of a circle

What is centripetal force?

Centripetal force is the force that acts towards the center of a circle and keeps an object moving in a circular path. It is a result of the object's inertia and is required to maintain the circular motion.

How is centripetal force calculated?

The centripetal force is calculated using the formula Fc = (mv^2)/r, where Fc is the centripetal force, m is the mass of the object, v is the velocity, and r is the radius of the circle.

What are some real-life examples of centripetal force?

Some common examples of centripetal force include the motion of a satellite around the Earth, a car turning on a curved road, and a ball being swung around on a string.

How does centripetal force affect the speed of an object?

Centripetal force is directly proportional to the square of the object's speed. This means that the faster an object is moving in a circular path, the greater the centripetal force required to maintain that motion.

How is centripetal force related to centripetal acceleration?

Centripetal force and centripetal acceleration are closely related. Centripetal acceleration is the rate of change of an object's velocity in a circular path, and it is always directed towards the center of the circle. This acceleration is caused by the centripetal force acting on the object.

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