College Physics

# 6.3Centripetal Force

College Physics6.3 Centripetal Force

Any force or combination of forces can cause a centripetal or radial acceleration. Just a few examples are the tension in the rope on a tether ball, the force of Earth’s gravity on the Moon, friction between roller skates and a rink floor, a banked roadway’s force on a car, and forces on the tube of a spinning centrifuge.

Any net force causing uniform circular motion is called a centripetal force. The direction of a centripetal force is toward the center of curvature, the same as the direction of centripetal acceleration. According to Newton’s second law of motion, net force is mass times acceleration: net $F=maF=ma size 12{F= ital "ma"} {}$. For uniform circular motion, the acceleration is the centripetal acceleration— $a=aca=ac size 12{a=a rSub { size 8{c} } } {}$. Thus, the magnitude of centripetal force $FcFc size 12{F rSub { size 8{c} } } {}$ is

$F c = m a c . F c = m a c . size 12{F rSub { size 8{c} } =ma rSub { size 8{c} } } {}$
6.23

By using the expressions for centripetal acceleration $acac size 12{a rSub { size 8{c} } } {}$ from $ac=v2r;ac=rω2ac=v2r;ac=rω2 size 12{a rSub { size 8{c} } = { {v rSup { size 8{2} } } over {r} } ;a rSub { size 8{c} } =rω rSup { size 8{2} } } {}$, we get two expressions for the centripetal force $FcFc size 12{F rSub { size 8{c} } } {}$ in terms of mass, velocity, angular velocity, and radius of curvature:

$F c = m v 2 r ; F c = mr ω 2 . F c = m v 2 r ; F c = mr ω 2 . size 12{F rSub { size 8{c} } =m { {v rSup { size 8{2} } } over {r} } ;F rSub { size 8{c} } = ital "mr"ω rSup { size 8{2} } } {}$
6.24

You may use whichever expression for centripetal force is more convenient. Centripetal force $FcFc size 12{F rSub { size 8{c} } } {}$ is always perpendicular to the path and pointing to the center of curvature, because $acac size 12{a rSub { size 8{c} } } {}$ is perpendicular to the velocity and pointing to the center of curvature.

Note that if you solve the first expression for $rr size 12{r} {}$, you get

$r=mv2Fc.r=mv2Fc. size 12{r= { { ital "mv" rSup { size 8{2} } } over {F rSub { size 8{c} } } } } {}$
6.25

This implies that for a given mass and velocity, a large centripetal force causes a small radius of curvature—that is, a tight curve.

Figure 6.11 The frictional force supplies the centripetal force and is numerically equal to it. Centripetal force is perpendicular to velocity and causes uniform circular motion. The larger the $FcFc size 12{F rSub { size 8{c} } } {}$, the smaller the radius of curvature $rr size 12{r} {}$ and the sharper the curve. The second curve has the same $vv size 12{v} {}$, but a larger $FcFc size 12{F rSub { size 8{c} } } {}$ produces a smaller $r′r′ size 12{ { {r}} sup { ' }} {}$.

### Example 6.4

#### What Coefficient of Friction Do Car Tires Need on a Flat Curve?

(a) Calculate the centripetal force exerted on a 900 kg car that negotiates a 500 m radius curve at 25.0 m/s.

(b) Assuming an unbanked curve, find the minimum static coefficient of friction, between the tires and the road, static friction being the reason that keeps the car from slipping (see Figure 6.12).

#### Strategy and Solution for (a)

We know that $F c = mv 2 r F c = mv 2 r$. Thus,

$F c = mv 2 r = ( 900 kg ) ( 25.0 m/s ) 2 ( 500 m ) = 1125 N. F c = mv 2 r = ( 900 kg ) ( 25.0 m/s ) 2 ( 500 m ) = 1125 N.$
6.26

#### Strategy for (b)

Figure 6.12 shows the forces acting on the car on an unbanked (level ground) curve. Friction is to the left, keeping the car from slipping, and because it is the only horizontal force acting on the car, the friction is the centripetal force in this case. We know that the maximum static friction (at which the tires roll but do not slip) is $μsNμsN size 12{μ rSub { size 8{s} } N} {}$, where $μsμs size 12{μ rSub { size 8{s} } } {}$ is the static coefficient of friction and N is the normal force. The normal force equals the car’s weight on level ground, so that $N=mgN=mg$. Thus the centripetal force in this situation is

$Fc=f=μsN=μsmg.Fc=f=μsN=μsmg. size 12{F rSub { size 8{c} } =f=μ rSub { size 8{s} } N=μ rSub { size 8{s} } ital "mg"} {}$
6.27

Now we have a relationship between centripetal force and the coefficient of friction. Using the first expression for $FcFc size 12{F rSub { size 8{c} } } {}$ from the equation

$F c = m v 2 r F c = mr ω 2 } , F c = m v 2 r F c = mr ω 2 } , size 12{ left none matrix { F rSub { size 8{c} } =m { {v rSup { size 8{2} } } over {r} } {} ## F rSub { size 8{c} } = ital "mr"ω rSup { size 8{2} } } right rbrace ,} {}$
6.28
$mv2r=μsmg.mv2r=μsmg. size 12{m { {v rSup { size 8{2} } } over {r} } =μ rSub { size 8{s} } ital "mg"} {}$
6.29

We solve this for $μsμs size 12{μ rSub { size 8{s} } } {}$, noting that mass cancels, and obtain

$μs=v2rg.μs=v2rg. size 12{μ rSub { size 8{s} } = { {v rSup { size 8{2} } } over { ital "rg"} } } {}$
6.30

#### Solution for (b)

Substituting the knowns,

$μs=(25.0 m/s)2(500 m)(9.80 m/s2)=0.13.μs=(25.0 m/s)2(500 m)(9.80 m/s2)=0.13. size 12{μ rSub { size 8{s} } = { { $$"25" "." 0" m/s"$$ rSup { size 8{2} } } over { $$"500"" m"$$ $$9 "." "80 m/s" rSup { size 8{2} }$$ } } =0 "." "13"} {}$
6.31

(Because coefficients of friction are approximate, the answer is given to only two digits.)

#### Discussion

We could also solve part (a) using the first expression in $F c = m v 2 r F c = mr ω 2 } , F c = m v 2 r F c = mr ω 2 } , size 12{ left none matrix { F rSub { size 8{c} } =m { {v rSup { size 8{2} } } over {r} } {} ## F rSub { size 8{c} } = ital "mr"ω rSup { size 8{2} } } right rbrace ,} {}$ because $m,m, size 12{m,} {}$$v,v, size 12{v,} {}$ and $rr size 12{r} {}$ are given. The coefficient of friction found in part (b) is much smaller than is typically found between tires and roads. The car will still negotiate the curve if the coefficient is greater than 0.13, because static friction is a responsive force, being able to assume a value less than but no more than $μsNμsN size 12{μ rSub { size 8{g} } N} {}$. A higher coefficient would also allow the car to negotiate the curve at a higher speed, but if the coefficient of friction is less, the safe speed would be less than 25 m/s. Note that mass cancels, implying that in this example, it does not matter how heavily loaded the car is to negotiate the turn. Mass cancels because friction is assumed proportional to the normal force, which in turn is proportional to mass. If the surface of the road were banked, the normal force would be less as will be discussed below.

Figure 6.12 This car on level ground is moving away and turning to the left. The centripetal force causing the car to turn in a circular path is due to friction between the tires and the road. A minimum coefficient of friction is needed, or the car will move in a larger-radius curve and leave the roadway.

Let us now consider banked curves, where the slope of the road helps you negotiate the curve. See Figure 6.13. The greater the angle $θθ size 12{θ} {}$, the faster you can take the curve. Race tracks for bikes as well as cars, for example, often have steeply banked curves. In an “ideally banked curve,” the angle $θθ size 12{θ} {}$ is such that you can negotiate the curve at a certain speed without the aid of friction between the tires and the road. We will derive an expression for $θθ size 12{θ} {}$ for an ideally banked curve and consider an example related to it.

For ideal banking, the net external force equals the horizontal centripetal force in the absence of friction. The components of the normal force N in the horizontal and vertical directions must equal the centripetal force and the weight of the car, respectively. In cases in which forces are not parallel, it is most convenient to consider components along perpendicular axes—in this case, the vertical and horizontal directions.

Figure 6.13 shows a free body diagram for a car on a frictionless banked curve. If the angle $θθ size 12{θ} {}$ is ideal for the speed and radius, then the net external force will equal the necessary centripetal force. The only two external forces acting on the car are its weight $ww size 12{w} {}$ and the normal force of the road $NN size 12{N} {}$. (A frictionless surface can only exert a force perpendicular to the surface—that is, a normal force.) These two forces must add to give a net external force that is horizontal toward the center of curvature and has magnitude $mv2/rmv2/r size 12{"mv" rSup { size 8{2} } "/r"} {}$. Because this is the crucial force and it is horizontal, we use a coordinate system with vertical and horizontal axes. Only the normal force has a horizontal component, and so this must equal the centripetal force—that is,

$Nsinθ=mv2r.Nsinθ=mv2r. size 12{N"sin"θ= { { ital "mv" rSup { size 8{2} } } over {r} } } {}$
6.32

Because the car does not leave the surface of the road, the net vertical force must be zero, meaning that the vertical components of the two external forces must be equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. From the figure, we see that the vertical component of the normal force is $NcosθNcosθ size 12{N"cos"θ} {}$, and the only other vertical force is the car’s weight. These must be equal in magnitude; thus,

$Ncosθ=mg.Ncosθ=mg. size 12{N"cos"θ= ital "mg"} {}$
6.33

Now we can combine the last two equations to eliminate $NN size 12{N} {}$ and get an expression for $θθ size 12{θ} {}$, as desired. Solving the second equation for $N=mg/(cosθ)N=mg/(cosθ) size 12{N= ital "mg"/ $$"cos"θ$$ } {}$, and substituting this into the first yields

$mg sin θ cos θ = mv 2 r mg sin θ cos θ = mv 2 r$
6.34
$mgtan(θ) = mv2r tanθ = v2rg. mgtan(θ) = mv2r tanθ = v2rg.$
6.35

Taking the inverse tangent gives

$θ=tan−1v2rg (ideally banked curve, no friction).θ=tan−1v2rg (ideally banked curve, no friction). size 12{θ="tan" rSup { size 8{ - 1} } left ( { {v rSup { size 8{2} } } over { ital "rg"} } right )} {}$
6.36

This expression can be understood by considering how $θθ size 12{θ} {}$ depends on $vv size 12{v} {}$ and $rr size 12{r} {}$. A large $θθ size 12{θ} {}$ will be obtained for a large $vv size 12{v} {}$ and a small $rr size 12{r} {}$. That is, roads must be steeply banked for high speeds and sharp curves. Friction helps, because it allows you to take the curve at greater or lower speed than if the curve is frictionless. Note that $θθ size 12{θ} {}$ does not depend on the mass of the vehicle.

Figure 6.13 The car on this banked curve is moving away and turning to the left.

### Example 6.5

#### What Is the Ideal Speed to Take a Steeply Banked Tight Curve?

Curves on some test tracks and race courses, such as the Daytona International Speedway in Florida, are very steeply banked. This banking, with the aid of tire friction and very stable car configurations, allows the curves to be taken at very high speed. To illustrate, calculate the speed at which a 100 m radius curve banked at 65.0° should be driven if the road is frictionless.

#### Strategy

We first note that all terms in the expression for the ideal angle of a banked curve except for speed are known; thus, we need only rearrange it so that speed appears on the left-hand side and then substitute known quantities.

#### Solution

Starting with

$tan θ = v 2 rg tan θ = v 2 rg size 12{"tan"θ= { {v rSup { size 8{2} } } over { ital "rg"} } } {}$
6.37

we get

$v=(rgtanθ)1/2.v=(rgtanθ)1/2. size 12{v= $$ital "rg""tan"θ$$ rSup { size 8{1/2} } } {}$
6.38

Noting that tan 65.0º = 2.14, we obtain

$v = (100 m)(9.80 m/s2)(2.14)1/2 = 45.8 m/s. v = (100 m)(9.80 m/s2)(2.14)1/2 = 45.8 m/s.$
6.39

#### Discussion

This is just about 165 km/h, consistent with a very steeply banked and rather sharp curve. Tire friction enables a vehicle to take the curve at significantly higher speeds.

Calculations similar to those in the preceding examples can be performed for a host of interesting situations in which centripetal force is involved—a number of these are presented in this chapter’s Problems and Exercises.

### Take-Home Experiment

Ask a friend or relative to swing a golf club or a tennis racquet. Take appropriate measurements to estimate the centripetal acceleration of the end of the club or racquet. You may choose to do this in slow motion.

### PhET Explorations

#### Gravity and Orbits

Move the sun, earth, moon and space station to see how it affects their gravitational forces and orbital paths. Visualize the sizes and distances between different heavenly bodies, and turn off gravity to see what would happen without it!

Figure 6.14
Order a print copy

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.