Question

A ball is tied to a 1.3 m string and whirled in a circular motion with a force of 220 N. If its speed is 6 m/s, (a) what is it centripetal acceleration? (b) What is the mass of the ball?

Answer 1

The centripetal acceleration is 27.692 kg m / s^2.

The mass of the ball is 7.94 kg.

Explanation:

• The curved path of an object experience a force known as centripetal force. Its direction is always pointing to the motion of the body towards the center of curvature of the path.

            centripetal force Fc = (mass * square of velocity) / radius

where m represents mass in kg

          v represents  velocity

          r represents radius in a meter.

• The acceleration experienced in uniform circular motion is called as centripetal acceleration.It always points toward the center of rotation and is perpendicular to the linear velocity.

•                     centripetal acceleration = v^2 / r

                                                             = (6 * 6) / 1.3

                                                             = 27.692 kg m / s^2.

 The mass of the ball is found by using the centripetal force formula,

•                               centripetal force Fc = m v^2 / r

                                                      m = (F * r) / v^2

                                                          =  (220 * 1.3) / 36

                           mass of the ball  m = 7.94 kg.