Question

A 75kg passenger at the bottom of a roller coaster loop that has a radius of 20m. If the roller coaster car is moving 10m/s, what is the apparent weight of the passenger? g

Answer 1

Answer:

The apparent weight of the passenger is 360 N

Explanation:

Given;

The mass of the passenger, m = 75 kg

radius of the loop, r = 20 m

velocity of the roller coaster, v = 10 m/s

Centripetal force acting on this passenger is given as;

$F = \frac{mv^2}{r}$

where;

F is the centripetal force acting on the passenger

m is the mass of the passenger

v is the velocity of the passenger

r is the radius of the track

$F = \frac{mv^2}{r} \\\\F = \frac{75*10^2}{20} \\\\F = 375 \ N$

Real weight of the passenger,

W = mg

where;

g is acceleration due to gravity

W = 75 x 9.8

W = 735 N

Apparent weight of the passenger = Real weight - Centripetal force

Apparent weight of the passenger  = 735 N - 375 N

Apparent weight of the passenger = 360 N

Therefore, the apparent weight of the passenger is 360 N