A particle of mass m is moving in a horizontal circle of radius R under the centripetal force =-k / R^2 where k is a constant. What is the total energy of the particle?

Step-by-step solution

Centripetal force = m v^2 R = k R^2 ( in magnitude ) KE = 1 2 m v^2= 1 2 k R P E=- F d R=- -k R^2 d R=- k R Total energy = KE + PE = k 2 R - k R =- k 2 R