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On the right side of the equation are variables that can change when objects move in circles.
- a) If the mass increases on the right side of the equation, then the right side of the equation gets larger. What happens to the Fc? Describe in your log how this agrees with your observations.
- b) If the velocity increases on the right side of the equation, what happens to the Fc? Describe in your log how this agrees with your observations.
- c) The equation tells you more about how the change in velocity affects the force than you could determine from your qualitative exercise. The equation says that the force increases as the square of the velocity, v2. If the velocity triples, then v2 is nine times as large. Tripling the velocity requires nine times the force. If the velocity quadruples (4 times as large), then v2 is sixteen (4 X 4) times as large. And, if the velocity increases by a factor of 10, then v2 is 100 times as large. A roller coaster car going with twice the speed around a banked curve needs a stronger track. Write down in your log how much stronger the track must be for a doubling of the speed.
- d) If the radius of the curve increases on the right side of the equation, then the right side of the equation gets smaller since the R is in the denominator of the fraction. What happens to the Fc?
- e) Complete the following sentence in your log: The gentler the curve, the _______ the force required to keep the car moving along the curve. If the curve is tight (R is very small) then a _______ force is required.
2. The limiting case of the large curve is where the curve's radius is so very large that the curve and a straight line are hardly distinguishable. On a straight path, no force is required.
- a) Describe in your log how this agrees with your observations of the cork on a string.
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