Le Fevre High School

SACE Stage 2 Physics

1 C
(a)

(b) vT = 3.5 m s-1 , R = 0.05 m

2 (a) As the force is always at 90o to the velocity, then the speed of the object cannot increase as no
component of the force is in the direction of the velocity. However since the force is at 90o to the velocity it
causes the velocity to change direction. But as the direction changes, then so does the force change to remain
at 90o. This results in a circular path.
m v2
(b) .F 
R
m v2 (1.0)(1.0) 2
R = = 0.1 m
F 10
2R 2R 2(0.1)
v  T = T = = 0.63 s
T v 1 .0

where T = period of rotation.

3 "Floor" of "dough" must exert the force on the space-person necessary to make them move in a circle.
They will then rotate with the same angular velocity as the "dough" and have an acceleration of magnitude
v2
ac 
R
Therefore v  a R 2 = R g = (100) 9.8 = 313 m s-1
This is fairly fast for a 200 m diameter structure but achievable.

4 The maximum force able to be exerted by the string on the 5 kg mass is 200 kg wt.
i.e. 200 x 9.8 N = 1960 N towards the centre

m v2
F
R
(5) v 2
1960 
(0.50)
v = 14 m s-1

m v2 (3)(16)
5 F= =
R 2
= 24 N toward centre of circle.
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2. If the engine of a car provides a forward force of 300 N, what is the total of the drag forces acting on the
car if it is moving with constant velocity?

As the net force on the car must be zero to provide constant velocity, the drag forces must be supplying
300N of force backwards.

3. A car of weight 8000 N and a truck of weight 30000 N are travelling at constant velocity on a flat road.
What is the normal force on each vehicle by the road?

The normal force for each vehicle is the opposite force to the weight of each vehicle, therefore the car has
a normal force of 8000N Up and the truck has normal force 30000N Up.

4. For a car rounding a comer on a flat horizontal road,

b. if the speed is doubled, what can you say about the force required to produce the centripetal
acceleration?
v2
ac  , therefore, if speed is doubled, the force required to provide the centripetal acceleration
r
would be 4 times as F  ma .

c. if the radius of the curve is doubled, what can you say about the force required to produce the
centripetal acceleration?
v2
ac  , therefore, id the radius is doubled, the force required to provide the centripetal
r
acceleration would be halved a s F  ma .

d. what happens if insufficient force can be supplied to achieve the required centripetal acceleration?
The vehicle will slide of the road in the opposite direction to the insufficient centripetal
acceleration.

5. When rounding a corner on a street circuit, as in the figure below, why do Grand Prix racing car drivers
prefer path B to path A?

Path B is the most preferable as it has the largest radius of curvature. The larger the radius, the less
force required to provide th centripetal acceleration.
v2
F  ma  m
r

6. (a) What provides the force for the centripetal acceleration when a road is banked at less than the
2
v
angle given by the equation tan   ?
rg
Friction between the car and the road provide the centripetal acceleration.
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(b)If friction is not to provide any of the force for the centripetal acceleration, show that the banking
v2
angle  for a radius of curvature r and speed v is given by tan  
rg
Horizontal component of normal force,
magnitude given by
2
In the right angled triangle,
v mv 2
Fc  m
R
tan   R
Vertical component of the
mg

Normal force on
normal force equal & v2
opposite to weight (mg)
vehicle by road  tan   R
(90o to road) g
v2
tan  
Rg
Weight = force of
gravity

7. Why is there a single recommended speed for a particular curve, which applies for all vehicles irrespective
of mass?
The above equation is independent of mass and only relies on the speed and radius of curvature of the
bend for a given gravitational field.

9. A curve of radius 400m is to be constructed on a freeway where the average speed is 100km/hr. If
friction is to provide no force for the centripetal acceleration, calculate the banking angle for this speed.