2.2 Centripetal Forces Flashcards Preview

A-Level Physics EDEXCEL Year 2 > 2.2 Centripetal Forces > Flashcards

Flashcards in 2.2 Centripetal Forces Deck (19)
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1
Q

When turning a corner at a steady speed what direction is the force acting on us?

A

Towards the centre of the circle of turn

2
Q

What is this force a result of?

A

Newton’s 1st Law, as we want to continue straight

3
Q

What is the name of this force?

A

Centripetal force

4
Q

Name of something pointing away from the centre of the circle?

A

Centrifugal

5
Q

What would we feel without centripetal force during a turn?

A

thrown away from the centre of the curve of travel

6
Q

When travelling in a circle does the direction change?

A

Yes constantly.

7
Q

Is the velocity changed?

A

Yes, as the object will keep accelerating at a tangent to centripetal force this happens due to constantly changing direction

8
Q

Is the speed changed?

A

No, unless accelerated

9
Q

What is the centripetal force a result of?What law

A

Newton’s second law

10
Q

What else is perpendicular to tangential velocity/acceleration

A

Centripetal acceleration

11
Q

What is centripetal force when looking at the reaction force?

A

The horizontal component of the reaction force

12
Q

What is the centripetal force?

A

a force acting on a moving body at angle to direction of motion, tending to make the body followed a curved path

13
Q

equation for centripetal acceleration?

A
a = v^2/r or a = rω^2 
where 
a  = centripetal acceleration 
v = linear velocity 
ω = angular velocity 
r = radius
14
Q

What does centripetal force keep doing?

A

Keeping object moving in a circle due to newton’s second law, it causes centripetal acceleration towards the centre of the rotation

15
Q

How can we investigate centripetal force?

A

A glass tubing with a string passing through it. The string has a rubber bang on one end and some hanging masses on the other. A person is made to swing the string with the rubber bang by holding the glass tubing, but the hanging masses have to stay stationary.

16
Q

How does this practical work?

A

We find the period by counting oscillations in a certain time. With assumptions of:
- there is no friction between glass and string (can be done by smoothening the glass using heat)
- string in exactly horizontal to whirling rubber bang
we can assume Mg = mrω^2

17
Q

equation for centripetal force?

A
f = mrω^2 or f = mv^2/r 
where 
f = centripetal force 
m = mass 
r = radius 
ω = angular velocity
18
Q

What would happen if centripetal force wasn’t present?

A

The body would fly off at the tangent of velocity at that point in time

19
Q

Examples of circular motion in real life

A
  • water skiers
  • cyclists on velodrome tracks
  • single sock in a spin drying machine
  • moon circling the earth
  • gymnast on a high bar

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