A 1500-kg car drives around a flat 200-m diameter circular track at 20 m/s. What is the net force acting on the car, in Newtons?

Question

A 1500-kg car drives around a flat 200-m diameter circular track at 20 m/s. What is the net force acting on the car, in Newtons? (Round your answer to the nearest whole number and do not include units.)

Answer 1

Given

m = 1500 kg

r = 100 m

V = 20 m/s (assume constant velocity)

Find:

Net force

Ft = 0 (Tangential force)

Fn = m V^2/r (Centripetal force)

Solution

Fn = m * V^2/r = 1500 * (20^2/100)

Fn = 6000 N

Ft = 0 N

F = Fn = 6000 N