Dover+Lab+16+-+Centripetal+Force+Lab

=Preliminary Questions=

1) Circular motion at a constant speed is not a natural state of motion according to Galileo because even though the speed of the object is the same, the velocity of the object is not and to meet Galileo's requirements to be in a natural state of motion 2) A change in motion per unit of time is acceleration. 3) A force that is directed towards the center of circular motion is called centripetal force.

Linear relationship between velocity and centripetal force, with a decent r^2 value.

Linear relationship between velocity squared and centripetal force, with not as good of an r^2 value as expected/wanted.

=Analysis Questions=

1) The force of the stopper provides the centripetal force needed to keep the stopper moving in a circle 2) The centripetal force is pointing inward and the normal force of the stopper is downward 3) If you increase the speed of revolution of the stopper the force needed to keep the stopper moving around needs to increase. 4) If you double the speed of the revolution you would expect the centripetal force needed to quadrupedal. 5) From the graphical analysis one can conclude that velocity squared does not have a better correlation with centripetal force than just velocity does, even though this is not true.

=Application=

5) The centripetal force needed for a car to go around a circular off-ramp at a constant speed is friction. 6) If a car tries to go around a circular off-ramp curve at a speed which requires a centripetal force greater than what the road can provide the car will travel off tangential to its direction of motion. 7) If a car doubles its speed on a circular off-ramp the centripetal force required for it to make the turn will be four times as much.