Is the Net Force at the Bottom of a Vertical Circle Greater or Lower Than MG?

However, it will be smaller than the force of gravity, resulting in a lower net force. In summary, the net force at the bottom of the vertical circle, which causes acceleration, is vertically upward and lower in magnitude than MG due to the tension being reduced by the force of gravity. This results in a smaller net centripetal force.
  • #1
HelloMotto
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You are whirling a rubber stopper of mass something attached to a string in a vertical circle at high constant speed. At the bottom of the circle, the net force that causes acceleration is

my answer was Vertically upward and greater in magnitude than MG.
but the answer in the book says
vertically upward and lower in magnitude than mg.

WHY? I don't get this.
At the bottom of the circle, The Centripetal force is the difference of Force tension pointing upwards and force of gravity pointing downwards. So if the netforce is smaller than MG, then there can't be a centripetal force...

please help me out.
 
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  • #2
If I'm understanding you correctly, you are talking about the tension of bottom vs. top?

The top has less magnitude because the tension [up] is reduced by the Fg [down]. At the bottom, the magnitude is greater because it's tension [down] PLUS Fg [down].
 
  • #3
You are thinking about the tension while they are asking about net force. As long as the tension is greater than MG, there will be some net centripetal force.
 

FAQ: Is the Net Force at the Bottom of a Vertical Circle Greater or Lower Than MG?

What is centripetal acceleration?

Centripetal acceleration is the acceleration directed towards the center of a circular motion. It is always perpendicular to the velocity of the object and is responsible for keeping the object in its circular path.

How is centripetal acceleration calculated?

Centripetal acceleration can be calculated using the formula a = v^2/r, where a is the centripetal acceleration, v is the velocity of the object, and r is the radius of the circular path.

What causes centripetal acceleration?

Centripetal acceleration is caused by a centripetal force acting on an object. This force can be exerted by a variety of factors, such as tension in a string, gravity, or friction.

Is centripetal acceleration always constant?

No, centripetal acceleration can vary depending on the speed and radius of the circular motion. As the speed or radius changes, the centripetal acceleration will also change accordingly.

What is the difference between centripetal acceleration and centrifugal force?

Centripetal acceleration is the acceleration towards the center of a circular motion, while centrifugal force is the apparent outward force that we feel due to our inertia when we are in a rotating frame of reference. Centrifugal force is not a real force, but rather a result of our perception of motion.

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