5 Examples of Solving Centripetal Force Problems - IB Physics

Finding centripetal force can be conceptually challenging. In this video I break down 5 situations to show which forces are adding together to make the centripetal force, and how we can use that information to solve other problems.

0:00 Horizontal vs. Vertical Circles
1:18 Example 1: Spinning Surfaces
4:32 Example 2: Turning and Banked Roads
8:53 Example 3: Tension at an Angle
11:02 Example 4: Hills & Troughs
14:25 Example 5: Loop-de-loop

[yogicentralyt]

I have a test on this unit in 2 days and this helped me a lot, you're the best! TYSM

[ummiatiqah]

please do videos for topic 9-12 too!! 🥺 I love your videos I hope they can help me for my May2021 exam 🥺🥺

[Dark_light]

I thought it was me who didn't understand, but now I realize I have a really bad professor.

[cloudy]

this did help a little even though I still basically don't know wtf I'm doing

[Alexandra-vscr]

Excellent video, thank you! Example 2 - turning roads: can someone explain how the angle to the ramp is equal to the top angle of the normal force?

[tiredgirl]

Thank you for such a great video! although I had a question in regards to the hill example no. 4, do we not consider applied force and force of friction? Is it due to us assuming that the car is just standing still on top of the hill?

[HAB]

Just a question, in the trough example, there won't be any maximum speed for the car right? since the normal force could just continue to match it as the velocity (and proportionally the centeripal force) increase.

[treasafrancis]

0:47 I'm a bit confused on this part. Could you elaborate more on what circular path being perfectly horizontal and vertical mean? Does it mean the object's going back and forth in a line? Also confused on why net force can only be horizontal for one and be horizontal and vertical for another

[jamesluc]

Just wonder why we don't consider the friction force in the example 2 of the banked curve? I think for the ramp problem, we always consider the friction force. Thank you

[ranjiniravi]

Not constant velocity but constant speed. As the direction of the object continuously changes.

[tiredgirl]

and also would you mind explaining in that same example why is the Normal force smaller than the force of gravity? I didn't understand that part...:)

[TheLeafInTheHidden]

Yeah, you would think we would have a lot of time for this, but no, we learn section 6 and 6.1 in one day, leaving the next day to study and the day after is our quiz day.

[daphnesa]

May I know if R is bigger than mg in examples 4 (trough), wouldn't the car just topple over?

[lumenphysics]

Sir can I know the process of explaining with figures, , , plz tell me

[eatyourcereal]

wait im so confused, how can a normal force be bigger than the force applied downwards onto the surface? And moreover, how can it be in the same direction?? Like mathematically I understand why it needs to be like that but how is that physically possible?? Isn't the normal a force always opposite (equal but opposite in direction) by definition to the force applied perpendicular to the surface and into the surface?
Also when the car is on the side of the loop de loop how can there be static friction in the car's direction of movement?? I mean the car is moving in that same axis so the friction must be kinetic, and also if its kinetic it should be in the opposite direction no?

[daphnesa]

and why is friction not taken into consideration at the bottom and the highest point of the loop de loop situation?

[priyamkamdar]

Hi, at 17:45 in the video, you mentioned that the Normal Force at the top of the circle has to act downwards towards the centre of the circle, adding up with the Gravitational Force to become Fc.. but logically, I didn't understand why the Normal Force would act downwards when the weight of the car is also downwards.. What force is present on the road/track that makes it exert an opposite force Downwards??

[ardianabani]

Sorry, but it seems like you are saying that Friction is the Centripetal force, as if friction causes the movement, BUT in fact, friction is the effect of movement, not the cause of it.

[ardianabani]

There are many questionable explanations here. But let's focus on example 5 for example, when you said that since the car is not slipping down then it must be a vertical force that keeps it from slipping and that has to be equal with the force of gravity applied on that car. So if the car is moving up then force of friction should point down, shouldn't it? Also you are saying that since an object is moving in circular motion and since you do not know other forces than Gravity, Normal force and Friction then one or the other is the cause of circular movement. Very primitive explanation of Physics by mixing up effect for the cause. Normal force is the effect of an object pressing on a surface, NOT THE CAUSE. It's never the cause.