A model train, with a mass of 2 kg, is moving on a circular track with a radius of 3 m. If the train's kinetic energy changes from 4 j to 5 j, by how much will the centripetal force applied by the tracks change by?

1 Answer
Steve J.
Nov 1, 2017

The centripetal force will increase by a factor of 5/4.

Explanation:

The formulas for both kinetic energy
KE = 1/2*m*v^2
and centripetal force
F_c = m*v^2/r
have a v^2 term. If the v^2 term used in the calculation of kinetic energy is increased by a factor of 5/4, the v^2 term used in the calculation of centripetal force will also increase by a factor of 5/4.

I hope this helps,
Steve

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