A block of mass m travels in a horizontal circle against the wall of a cylindrical room of radius R . The floor of the room is smooth, while the friction coefficient between the wall and the block is μ . The block is

Question

Quantrex Academy · Accepted Answer

Correct answer: D. -(μ v^2)/(R)

The normal force exerted by the cylindrical wall provides the necessary centripetal force for the block to move in a horizontal circle of radius

R

.

N = \dfrac{mv^2}{R}

The kinetic friction force from the wall acts tangentially, opposite to the direction of motion.

f = \mu N = \mu \dfrac{mv^2}{R}

By Newton's second law, the tangential acceleration

a_t

is given by:

m a_t = -f

m a_t = -\dfrac{\mu m v^2}{R}

a_t = -\dfrac{\mu v^2}{R}

A block of mass m travels in a horizontal circle against the wall...

Options

Correct answer

Step-by-step solution

More from Circular Motion