Normal force on top of a loop?

In summary, when calculating the minimum speed of a roller coaster going through a loop, the normal force is set to zero in the equation n+w=m*v^2/r. This is because at the point where the roller coaster just makes the loop, the normal force is not present. The coaster is essentially "floating" and vertically stationary in midair as it transitions from going up to coming down. This is why the normal force is not included in the equation.
  • #1
lpbug
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Say we have a roller coaster, and we want to calculate the speed the roller coaster can go at barely making the loop. Normally, the equation would be n+w=m*v^2/r, but why do we set normal equal to zero when we're solving for the minimum speed? Where does the normal come from on top of the roller coaster anyway? Thank you all so much.
 
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  • #2
Hhhmmm...I am not sure I am following, but it seems to me that you already answered your own question.

What does the normal come from? It doesn't...that's why you set the normal to zero in the equation that you are solving, because if you want to calculate the point at which the roller coaster just makes it...well, at the point the coaster is "floating" and vertically stationary in midair as it is stopping from going up and getting ready to start coming down...

do I make sense?
 

FAQ: Normal force on top of a loop?

What is the normal force on top of a loop?

The normal force on top of a loop refers to the force exerted by the surface of the loop on an object resting on top of it. It is always perpendicular to the surface of the loop and acts to prevent the object from falling through the loop.

How is the normal force on top of a loop calculated?

The normal force on top of a loop can be calculated using the formula N = mg + mv^2/r, where N is the normal force, m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity, v is the velocity of the object, and r is the radius of the loop.

What factors affect the normal force on top of a loop?

The normal force on top of a loop is affected by the mass of the object, the velocity and acceleration of the object, and the radius of the loop. These factors influence the magnitude of the normal force and can also affect its direction.

Why is the normal force on top of a loop important?

The normal force on top of a loop is important because it helps to keep an object in circular motion as it moves around the loop. Without the normal force, the object would simply fall through the loop due to the force of gravity.

How does the normal force change as an object moves around a loop?

As an object moves around a loop, the normal force changes depending on the position of the object on the loop. At the top of the loop, the normal force is at its maximum since the object is moving with the greatest velocity. As the object moves down the loop, the normal force decreases until it reaches its minimum at the bottom of the loop, where the velocity is zero.

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