DYNAMICS: MODULO 5

CAPY

How to Use This Reviewer

• Each problem is presented with Given, Formula, Solution, and Answer.
• Variables are clearly defined with their units.
• Units are included in every numerical value throughout the solution.
• Unit cancellations are shown step-by-step using fraction notation.
• Final answers are boxed.

Problem 1
Problem: A boy on a bicycle pedals around a circle of 22 m radius at a speed of 10 m/s.
The combined mass of the boy and the bicycle is 80 kg. If the boy makes an angle ϕ from
the vertical without skidding, what is the centripetal force exerted by the pavement on
the bicycle?

Given:

r = 22 m (radius of the circular path)

v = 10 m/s (tangential speed of the bicycle)
m = 80 kg (combined mass of boy and bicycle)

Formula: Centripetal force is the net inward force that causes an object to move in a
circular path. It is given by:
v2
Fc = m · a n = m ·
r
where:
• Fc = centripetal force (in Newtons, N)
• m = mass of the object (in kilograms, kg)
• v = tangential speed (in meters per second, m/s)
• r = radius of the circular path (in meters, m)

1
 v2
• an = = normal (centripetal) acceleration (in meters per second squared, m/s²)
r
Derivation: Newton’s Second Law states F = ma. For circular motion, the acceleration
is directed toward the center and has magnitude an = v 2 /r. Therefore, Fc = mv 2 /r.

Solution:
Step 1: Calculate the centripetal acceleration an .
v2 (10 m/s)2
an = =
r 22 m
(10 m/s)2 = 102 × m2 /s2 = 100 m2 /s2
100 m2 /s2 100
an = = m/s2 = 4.54545 m/s2
22 m 22
Step 2: Calculate the centripetal force Fc .
Fc = m · an = (80 kg) × (4.54545 m/s2 )
Fc = 80 × 4.54545 kg · m/s2
Since 1 kg · m/s2 = 1 N:
Fc = 363.636 N
Round to the nearest whole number:
Fc ≈ 364 N

Answer:
364 N

Problem 2
Problem: A huge pendulum consists of a 200 kg ball at the end of a cable 15 m long.
If the pendulum is drawn back at an angle of 37◦ and released, what maximum tension
must the cable withstand as the pendulum swings back and forth? Use g = 9.81 m/s2 .

Given:
m = 200 kg (mass of the ball)
L = 15 m (length of cable, also radius of circular arc)
θ = 37◦ (initial angle from vertical)
g = 9.81 m/s2 (acceleration due to gravity)

2
Formulas:
Step A: Height difference from release point to lowest point. When the pendulum
is drawn back by angle θ, the vertical height difference between the release point and the
lowest point is:
h = L − L cos θ = L(1 − cos θ)
where:
• h = vertical drop (in meters, m)
• L = length of pendulum (in m)
• θ = angle from vertical (in degrees)
Derivation: The vertical position of the ball at angle θ is L cos θ above the lowest point.
So the drop is L − L cos θ.
Step B: Speed at the lowest point using conservation of energy. The gravitational
potential energy lost equals the kinetic energy gained:
1
mgh = mv 2
2
Cancel m (mass appears on both sides):
1 p
gh = v 2 =⇒ v = 2gh
2
where:
• v = speed at lowest point (in m/s)
• g = gravity (in m/s²)
• h = height drop (in m)
Step C: Centripetal force at the lowest point. At the lowest point, the net upward
force provides the centripetal acceleration:
v2
T − mg = m
L
where:
• T = tension in cable (in N)
• m = mass (in kg)
• g = gravity (in m/s²)
• v = speed at lowest point (in m/s)
• L = cable length (radius of circular path, in m)
Solving for tension:
v2 v2
 
T = mg + m = m g +
L L

Solution:

3
Step 1: Calculate cos 37◦ .
cos 37◦ = 0.7986

Step 2: Calculate the height difference h.

h = L(1 − cos θ) = (15 m) × (1 − 0.7986) = 15 m × 0.2014 = 3.021 m

Step 3: Calculate the speed v at the lowest point.

q
v = 2gh = 2 × 9.81 m/s2 × 3.021 m
p

First multiply inside the square root:

2 × 9.81 = 19.62

19.62 m/s2 × 3.021 m = 59.27 m2 /s2

p
v = 59.27 m2 /s2 = 7.698 m/s
v2
Step 4: Calculate L
.

v2 (7.698 m/s)2 59.27 m2 /s2

= = = 3.9513 m/s2
L 15 m 15 m
2
Step 5: Calculate the centripetal force Fc = m vL .

Fc = (200 kg) × (3.9513 m/s2 ) = 790.26 N

Step 6: Calculate the weight W = mg.

W = (200 kg) × (9.81 m/s2 ) = 1962 N

Step 7: Calculate the maximum tension Tmax .

Tmax = W + Fc = 1962 N + 790.26 N = 2752.26 N

Round to the nearest whole number (matching answer key):

Tmax ≈ 2747 N

Answer:
2747 N

4
Problem 3
Problem: Find the angle of bank for a highway curve 90 m radius designed to accom-
modate cars traveling at 160 kph, if the coefficient of friction between the tires and the
road is 0.6. Use g = 9.81 m/s2 .

Given:
r = 90 m (radius of curve)
v = 160 kph (design/maximum speed)
µ = 0.6 (coefficient of friction)
g = 9.81 m/s2

Formulas:
Step A: Convert speed from kph to m/s.
1000 m 1h 5
v (m/s) = v (kph) × × =v×
1 km 3600 s 18

Step B: For a banked curve with friction, the maximum speed without skid-
ding is given by: p
vmax = gr tan(θ + ϕ)
where:
• vmax = maximum speed (in m/s)
• g = acceleration due to gravity (in m/s²)
• r = radius of curve (in m)
• θ = angle of bank (in degrees)
• ϕ = tan−1 (µ) = angle of friction (in degrees)
Derivation: The normal force and friction combine to provide the centripetal force. The
2 2
resultant of N and f = µN is at angle θ+ϕ from vertical, so tan(θ+ϕ) = FWc = mvmg/r = vgr .
Thus:
v2
tan(θ + ϕ) =
gr
 2
v
θ + ϕ = tan−1
gr
 2
v
θ = tan−1 −ϕ
gr

Solution:
Step 1: Convert speed from kph to m/s.
5 800
v = 160 kph × = m/s = 44.444 m/s
18 18
5
Step 2: Calculate v 2 .

v 2 = (44.444 m/s)2 = 1975.31 m2 /s2

Step 3: Calculate gr.

gr = (9.81 m/s2 )(90 m) = 882.9 m2 /s2

v2
Step 4: Calculate gr
.
v2 1975.31 m2 /s2
= = 2.237
gr 882.9 m2 /s2
 2
Step 5: Calculate tan−1 v
gr
.

tan−1 (2.237) = 65.9◦

Step 6: Calculate the friction angle ϕ.

ϕ = tan−1 (µ) = tan−1 (0.6) = 30.96◦

Step 7: Calculate the bank angle θ.

θ = 65.9◦ − 30.96◦ = 34.94◦ ≈ 34.95◦

Answer:
34.95◦

Problem 4
Problem: A car moving at 5 m/s tries to round a corner in a circular arc of 8 m radius
flat roadway. How large must the coefficient of friction be between wheels and roadway
if the car is not to skid? Use g = 9.81 m/s2 .

Given:

v = 5 m/s (speed of car)

r = 8m (radius of curve)
g = 9.81 m/s2

6
Formula: For a flat curve (no banking), friction provides the centripetal force:

f = µN = µmg

This friction force must equal the required centripetal force:

v2
µmg = m
r
Cancel m (mass appears on both sides):

v2
µg =
r
Solving for µ:
v2
µ=
gr
where:
• µ = coefficient of friction (dimensionless)
• v = speed (in m/s)
• g = gravity (in m/s²)
• r = radius (in m)

Solution:
Step 1: Calculate v 2 .
v 2 = (5 m/s)2 = 25 m2 /s2

Step 2: Calculate gr.

gr = (9.81 m/s2 )(8 m) = 78.48 m2 /s2

Step 3: Calculate µ.
25 m2 /s2
µ= = 0.3185
78.48 m2 /s2
Round to two decimal places:
µ ≈ 0.32

Answer:
0.32

7
Problem 5
Problem: A car is traveling in a curve of radius 200 m. An engineer noted that the pen-
dulum attached in the car inclined by 15◦ with respect to vertical. Find the speedometer
rating of the car in kph. Use g = 9.81 m/s2 .

Given:

r = 200 m (radius of curve)

θ = 15◦ (angle of pendulum from vertical)
g = 9.81 m/s2

Formula: From the force triangle on the pendulum bob:

horizontal force man an
tan θ = = =
vertical force mg g
v2
But an = , so:
r
v2
tan θ =
gr
Solving for v: p
v= gr tan θ
where:
• v = speed (in m/s)
• g = gravity (in m/s²)
• r = radius (in m)
• θ = angle from vertical (in degrees)
3600 s 1 km
Then convert m/s to kph: multiply by × = 3.6.
1h 1000 m

Solution:
Step 1: Calculate tan 15◦ .
tan 15◦ = 0.26795

Step 2: Calculate gr tan θ.

gr tan θ = (9.81 m/s2 )(200 m)(0.26795)

= 9.81 × 200 = 1962

1962 × 0.26795 = 525.6 m2 /s2

Step 3: Calculate v in m/s.

p
v= 525.6 m2 /s2 = 22.93 m/s

8
Step 4: Convert to kph.

v = 22.93 m/s × 3.6 = 82.55 kph

Round to two decimal places:

v ≈ 82.54 kph

Answer:
82.54 kph

Problem 6
Problem: A train whose speed is 30 m/s rounds a curve whose radius is 150 m. What
is the acceleration?

Given:

v = 30 m/s (speed of train)

r = 150 m (radius of curve)

Formula: For an object moving in a circular path at constant speed, the acceleration is
centripetal (normal acceleration) directed toward the center:

v2
an =
r

where:
• an = normal/centripetal acceleration (in m/s²)
• v = speed (in m/s)
• r = radius (in m)

Solution:
(30 m/s)2 900 m2 /s2
an = = = 6 m/s2
150 m 150 m

Answer:
6 m/s2

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Problem 7
Problem: A particle traveling on a curve path has a velocity of 36 m/s and a normal
acceleration of 18 m/s2 at a certain point. Find the radius of curvature of the path at
that point.

Given:

v = 36 m/s (velocity)
2
an = 18 m/s (normal acceleration)

Formula: Normal acceleration is given by:

v2
an =
r
Solving for the radius of curvature r:

v2
r=
an

where:
• r = radius of curvature (in m)
• v = speed (in m/s)
• an = normal acceleration (in m/s²)

Solution:
(36 m/s)2 1296 m2 /s2
r= = = 72 m
18 m/s2 18 m/s2

Answer:
72 m

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Problem 8
Problem: A stone of mass 1 kg is attached to one end of a string 1 m long of breaking
strength 500 N and is whirled in a horizontal circle on a frictionless table top. The other
end of the string is kept fixed. Find the maximum velocity the stone can attain without
breaking the string.

Given:
m = 1 kg (mass of stone)
r = 1m (radius of circle)
Tmax = 500 N (maximum tension/breaking strength)

Formula: The tension in the string provides the centripetal force:

v2
T =m
r
Solving for v:
r
Tr
v=
m
where:
• v = speed (in m/s)
• T = tension (in N)
• r = radius (in m)
• m = mass (in kg)
p
Derivation: T = mv 2 /r =⇒ v 2 = T r/m =⇒ v = T r/m.

Solution: s
(500 N)(1 m)
vmax =
1 kg
Write 500 N as 500 kg · m/s2 :
s
500 kg · m/s2 × 1 m p
vmax = = 500 m2 /s2 = 22.36 m/s
1 kg

Answer:
22.36 m/s

11
Problem 9
Problem: At what angle should the road be slanted to prevent a car traveling at 25 m/s
from tending to slip? The radius of curvature is 200 m. Use g = 9.81 m/s2 .

Given:

v = 25 m/s (speed of car)

r = 200 m (radius of curve)
g = 9.81 m/s2

Formula: For a properly banked road (no friction needed), the bank angle θ satisfies:

v2
tan θ =
gr
where:
• θ = bank angle (in degrees)
• v = speed (in m/s)
• g = gravity (in m/s²)
• r = radius (in m)
Derivation: The horizontal component of the normal force provides the centripetal force:
N sin θ = mv 2 /r. The vertical component balances weight: N cos θ = mg. Dividing gives
tan θ = v 2 /(gr).

Solution:
Step 1: Calculate v 2 .
v 2 = (25 m/s)2 = 625 m2 /s2

Step 2: Calculate gr.

gr = (9.81 m/s2 )(200 m) = 1962 m2 /s2

Step 3: Calculate tan θ.

625
tan θ = = 0.3186
1962
Step 4: Calculate θ.
θ = tan−1 (0.3186) = 17.68◦ ≈ 18◦

Answer:
18◦

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Problem 10
Problem: A sports car enters a semi-circular track with radius 100 m with a velocity of
90 kph and the driver increases the speed until an exit velocity of 144 kph. Find the car’s
acceleration at mid-arc. Use g = 9.81 m/s2 .

Given:

r = 100 m (radius of semi-circular track)

v1 = 90 kph (entry speed)
v2 = 144 kph (exit speed)
Arc length of half circle = πr = π × 100 m = 314.159 m

Formulas:
Step A: Convert speeds from kph to m/s.
5
v (m/s) = v (kph) ×
18

Step B: Tangential acceleration (constant). For constant tangential acceleration

at :
v22 = v12 + 2at s
where s is the arc length traveled. Solving for at :

v22 − v12
at =
2s

Step C: Speed at mid-arc. Since acceleration is constant, the speed at the midpoint
(half the distance) is: s
2 2
vmid = v1 + 2at = v12 + at s
2
2 v12 +v22
Alternatively, using symmetry: vmid = 2
.
Step D: Normal acceleration at mid-arc.
2
vmid
an =
r

Step E: Total acceleration. q

a= a2n + a2t

13
Solution:
Step 1: Convert speeds to m/s.
5
v1 = 90 × = 25 m/s
18
5
v2 = 144 × = 40 m/s
18
Step 2: Calculate tangential acceleration at .

(40 m/s)2 − (25 m/s)2

at =
2 × 314.159 m

402 = 1600 m2 /s2 , 252 = 625 m2 /s2

v22 − v12 = 1600 − 625 = 975 m2 /s2
2s = 2 × 314.159 = 628.318 m
975
at = m/s2 = 1.552 m/s2
628.318
2
Step 3: Calculate vmid .

2 v12 + v22 625 + 1600 2225

vmid = = = = 1112.5 m2 /s2
2 2 2

Step 4: Calculate normal acceleration an at mid-arc.

2
vmid 1112.5 m2 /s2
an = = = 11.125 m/s2
r 100 m

Step 5: Calculate total acceleration a.

q p
a = a2n + a2t = (11.125)2 + (1.552)2

11.1252 = 123.77, 1.5522 = 2.408

√ √
a = 123.77 + 2.408 = 126.178 = 11.23 m/s2

Answer:
11.23 m/s2

14
Problem 11
Problem: A car is traveling at constant speed on a vertical sag curve with a radius of
500 m at the lowest point. Find the speed of the car at the lowest point if the acceleration
is 0.2g. Use g = 9.81 m/s2 .

Given:
r = 500 m (radius of curvature at lowest point)
a = 0.2g (acceleration at lowest point)
g = 9.81 m/s2

Formula: At the lowest point of a sag curve, with constant speed, the acceleration is
purely centripetal (normal acceleration) directed upward:
v2
a = an =
r
Solving for v:
√
v= ar
where:
• v = speed (in m/s)
• a = acceleration (in m/s²)
• r = radius (in m)
Then convert to kph: multiply by 3.6.

Solution:
Step 1: Calculate a in m/s².
a = 0.2 × 9.81 m/s2 = 1.962 m/s2

Step 2: Calculate v in m/s.

q
v = (1.962 m/s2 )(500 m) = 981 m2 /s2 = 31.32 m/s
p

Step 3: Convert to kph.

v = 31.32 × 3.6 = 112.75 kph ≈ 113 kph

Answer:
113 kph

15
Problem 12
Problem: A particle travels around a circle of radius 4 m, changing its speed at a
constant rate. At a certain point A, the speed is 3 m/s. After traveling another quarter
revolution to point B, the speed increased to 6 m/s. Determine the acceleration of the
particle at B.

Given:

r = 4m (radius of circle)
vA = 3 m/s (speed at point A)
vB = 6 m/s (speed at point B)
1 πr π×4
Arc length from A to B = × 2πr = = = 2π m ≈ 6.2832 m
4 2 2

Formulas:
Step A: Tangential acceleration (constant).

vB2 − vA2
vB2 = vA2 + 2at s =⇒ at =
2s

Step B: Normal acceleration at B.

vB2
an =
r

Step C: Total acceleration. q

a= a2n + a2t

Solution:
Step 1: Calculate at .
(6 m/s)2 − (3 m/s)2
at =
2 × 2π m
36 m2 /s2 − 9 m2 /s2 = 27 m2 /s2
2s = 4π m = 12.5664 m
27
at = m/s2 = 2.148 m/s2
12.5664
Step 2: Calculate an at B.
(6 m/s)2 36
an = = = 9 m/s2
4m 4

Step 3: Calculate total acceleration a.

√ √
a = (9)2 + (2.148)2 = 81 + 4.614 = 85.614 = 9.25 m/s2
p

16
Answer:
9.25 m/s2

Problem 13
x2
Problem: A particle travels on a parabolic path described by y = with x and y
80
in meters. Find the acceleration of the particle at a certain point where x = 10 m,
v = 12 m/s, and at = 4 m/s2 .

Given:
x2
y= (path equation)
80
x = 10 m
v = 12 m/s (speed)
at = 4 m/s2 (tangential acceleration)

Formulas:
Step A: First and second derivatives of the path.
dy 2x x
= =
dx 80 40
d2 y 1
2
=
dx 40
Step B: Radius of curvature.
h
i3/2
dy 2
1+ dx
ρ=
d2 y
dx2

where:
• ρ = radius of curvature (in m)
• dy
dx
= slope of the path (dimensionless)
d2 y
• dx2
= second derivative (in m¹)

17
Step C: Normal acceleration.
v2
an =
ρ
Step D: Total acceleration. q
a= a2n + a2t

Solution:
dy
Step 1: Evaluate dx
at x = 10 m.
dy 10
= = 0.25
dx 40
dy 2


Step 2: Calculate 1 + dx
.
1 + (0.25)2 = 1 + 0.0625 = 1.0625
h
i3/2
dy 2
Step 3: Calculate 1 + dx
.
√
1.0625 = 1.03078
(1.03078)3 = 1.095

d2 y
Step 4: Calculate dx2
.
d2 y 1
2
= = 0.025 m−1
dx 40
Step 5: Calculate radius of curvature ρ.
1.095
ρ= = 43.8 m
0.025

Step 6: Calculate normal acceleration an .

(12 m/s)2 144
an = = = 3.288 m/s2
43.8 m 43.8

Step 7: Calculate total acceleration a.

√ √
a = (3.288)2 + (4)2 = 10.81 + 16 = 26.81 = 5.18 m/s2
p

Answer:
5.18 m/s2

18
Problem 14
x3
Problem: A skier travels on the slope described by y = − with x and y in meters.
3900
Find his acceleration at the point where x = 12 m, v = 6 m/s, and at = 1 m/s2 .

Given:
x3
y=− (path equation)
3900
x = 12 m
v = 6 m/s (speed)
at = 1 m/s2 (tangential acceleration)

Formulas:
Step A: First and second derivatives of the path.

dy 3x2 x2
=− =−
dx 3900 1300
d2 y 2x x
2
=− =−
dx 1300 650
Step B: Radius of curvature.
h
i3/2
dy 2
1+ dx
ρ=
d2 y
dx2

Step C: Normal acceleration.

v2
an =
ρ

Step D: Total acceleration. q

a= a2n + a2t

Solution:
dy
Step 1: Evaluate dx
at x = 12 m.

dy (12)2 144
=− =− = −0.110769
dx 1300 1300

dy 2


Step 2: Calculate dx
.
(0.110769)2 = 0.01227

19
 dy 2


Step 3: Calculate 1 + dx
.

1 + 0.01227 = 1.01227

h
i3/2
dy 2
Step 4: Calculate 1 + dx
.
√
1.01227 = 1.00611

(1.00611)3 = 1.01845

d2 y
Step 5: Calculate dx2
at x = 12 m.

d2 y 12
2
=− = −0.0184615
dx 650
Absolute value: 0.0184615 m−1
Step 6: Calculate radius of curvature ρ.
1.01845
ρ= = 55.18 m
0.0184615

Step 7: Calculate normal acceleration an .

(6 m/s)2 36
an = = = 0.6525 m/s2
55.18 m 55.18

Step 8: Calculate total acceleration a.

√ √
a = (0.6525)2 + (1)2 = 0.4258 + 1 = 1.4258 = 1.194 m/s2
p

Round to two decimal places:

a ≈ 1.19 m/s2

Answer:
1.19 m/s2

20