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Calculate the centripetal force exerted on a 900 kg car that negotiates a 500 m radius curve at 25.0 m/s.
A1125 N
B45.0 N
C56.25 N
D2250 N
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. 1125 N
1. Centripetal force is Fc = m*v^2/r.
2. Substituting the given values, Fc = (900 kg)(25.0 m/s)^2 / (500 m).
3. Squaring the speed gives 625 m^2/s^2, and (900 kg)(625 m^2/s^2) = 562,500 kg*m^2/s^2.
4. Dividing by 500 m gives Fc = 1125 N.
5. 2250 N would come from forgetting to square the speed correctly and doubling instead, while 45.0 N and 56.25 N come from dividing by the mass rather than multiplying by it.
_Source: OpenStax College Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 6 "Uniform Circular Motion and Gravitation", section 6.3 Centripetal Force_
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