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 24 cm24cm, by how much must the centripetal force applied by the tracks change?

1 Answer
Dec 15, 2017

The change in centripetal force is =0.105N=0.105N

Explanation:

The centripetal force is

F=(mv^2)/rF=mv2r

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

The velocity is v=0.12ms^-1v=0.12ms1

The radii are

r_1=0.32mr1=0.32m

and

r_2=0.24mr2=0.24m

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*0.12^2/0.24=0.42N

DeltaF=0.42-0.315=0.105N