For a particle of mass m moving at speed v in a circle of radius r, the centripetal force is F = m v^2 / r. If m = 0.10 kg, r = 2.0 m, and v = 3.0 m/s, what is F?

Study for the UCF PHY2054 General Physics Exam. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions complete with hints and explanations. Boost your understanding and get exam-ready!

Multiple Choice

For a particle of mass m moving at speed v in a circle of radius r, the centripetal force is F = m v^2 / r. If m = 0.10 kg, r = 2.0 m, and v = 3.0 m/s, what is F?

Explanation:
The centripetal force needed to keep a mass moving in a circle is determined by F = m v^2 / r. Here, you substitute the values: v^2 is 3.0^2 = 9, so m v^2 = 0.10 × 9 = 0.90. Dividing by the radius r = 2.0 gives F = 0.90 / 2.0 = 0.45 N. The units come out as newtons because kg × (m^2/s^2) per m is kg·m/s^2, which is a newton. So the inward (centripetal) force is 0.45 newtons. If you see other numbers, they usually come from arithmetic slips, like not squaring the speed or misplacing the decimal in the radius.

The centripetal force needed to keep a mass moving in a circle is determined by F = m v^2 / r. Here, you substitute the values: v^2 is 3.0^2 = 9, so m v^2 = 0.10 × 9 = 0.90. Dividing by the radius r = 2.0 gives F = 0.90 / 2.0 = 0.45 N. The units come out as newtons because kg × (m^2/s^2) per m is kg·m/s^2, which is a newton. So the inward (centripetal) force is 0.45 newtons. If you see other numbers, they usually come from arithmetic slips, like not squaring the speed or misplacing the decimal in the radius.

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