First, convert the rotational speed to radians per second: [katex]\omega = 45 , \frac{\text{rev}}{\text{min}} \times \frac{1 , \text{min}}{60 , \text{s}} \times \frac{2\pi , \text{radians}}{1 , \text{rev}}[/katex].
Note you can convert to linear velocity [katex] v [/katex] instead of using [katex] \omega [/katex], since [katex] v = \omega r [/katex], where [katex] r [/katex] is the radius of the circle.
The minimum coefficient of static friction is found using the balance of forces in the vertical direction, with the static frictional force providing the upward force to counteract gravity, and the centripetal force being provided by the normal force.
| Step | Formula / Derivation | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | [katex]a_c = \frac{v^2}{R}[/katex] | Centripetal acceleration formula. |
| 2 | [katex]v = R\omega[/katex] | Linear velocity in terms of radius and angular velocity. |
| 3 | [katex]a_c = R\omega^2[/katex] | Substitute [katex]v[/katex] into the centripetal acceleration formula. |
| 4 | [katex]F_c = m a_c = m R\omega^2[/katex] | Centripetal force provided by the normal force. |
| 5 | [katex]f_s = \mu_s N[/katex] | Static frictional force opposing gravity. |
| 6 | [katex]f_s = m g[/katex] | Static frictional force equals gravitational force to prevent sliding. |
| 7 | [katex]\mu_s = \frac{f_s}{N} = \frac{mg}{mR\omega^2}[/katex] | Substitute [katex]f_s[/katex] and [katex]N[/katex] with their equivalents. |
| 8 | [katex]\mu_s = \frac{g}{R\omega^2}[/katex] | Cancel [katex]m[/katex] from the equation. |
| 9 | [katex]\mu_s = \frac{g}{R\left(\frac{45}{60} \times 2\pi\right)^2}[/katex] | Substitute [katex]\omega[/katex] with its value in terms of rev/min to rad/s. |
| 10 | [katex]\mu_s = \frac{9.8}{4\left(\frac{3}{4} \pi\right)^2}[/katex] | Substitute given values for [katex]g[/katex] and [katex]R[/katex]. |
| 11 | [katex]\mu_s = \frac{9.8}{4\left(\frac{9}{16} \pi^2\right)}[/katex] | Simplify the expression for [katex]\omega^2[/katex]. |
| 12 | [katex]\boxed{\mu_s = \frac{9.8 \times 16}{4 \times 9 \pi^2}}[/katex] | Final expression for [katex]\mu_s[/katex]. |
Now let’s calculate the exact value for the minimum coefficient of static friction required.
The minimum coefficient of static friction required so that the rider does not slide down the wall is [katex] \boxed{\mu_s \approx 0.11} [/katex]
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A ball of mass m is fastened to a string. The ball swings at constant speed in a vertical circle of radius R with the other end of the string held fixed. Neglecting air resistance, what is the difference between the string’s tension at the bottom of the circle and at the top of the circle?
The Moon does not crash into the Earth because:
A communications satellite orbits the Earth at an altitude of \(35{,}000 \, \text{km}\) above the Earth’s surface. Take the mass of Earth to be \(6 \times 10^{24} \, \text{kg}\) and the radius of Earth to be \(6.4 \times 10^6 \, \text{m}\). What is the satellite’s velocity?
A car travels at a constant speed around a circular track whose radius is \(2.6 \, \text{km}\). The car goes once around the track in \(360 \, \text{s}\). What is the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration of the car?
A child has a toy tied to the end of a string and whirls the toy at constant speed in a horizontal circular path of radius \(R\). The toy completes each revolution of its motion in a time period \(T\). What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the toy (in terms of \(T\), \(R\), and \(g\))?
A rock is whirled on the end of a string in a horizontal circle of radius \(R\) with a constant period \(T\). If the radius of the circle is reduced to \(R/3\), while the period remains \(T\), what happens to the centripetal acceleration (\(a_c\)) of the rock?
A car is safely negotiating an unbanked circular turn at a speed of \(17 \, \text{m/s}\) on dry road. However, a long wet patch in the road appears and decreases the maximum static frictional force to one-fifth of its dry-road value. If the car is to continue safely around the curve, by what factor would the it need to change the original velocity?
A 2.0 kg ball on the end of a 0.65 m long string is moving in a vertical circle. At the bottom of the circle, its speed is 4.0 m/s. Find the tension in the string.
On a harsh winter day, a \( 1500 \) \( \text{kg} \) vehicle takes a circular banked exit ramp (radius \( R = 150 \) \( \text{m} \); banking angle of \( 10^\circ \)) at a speed of \( 30 \) \( \text{mph} \), since the speed limit is \( 35 \) \( \text{mph} \). However, the exit ramp is completely iced up (frictionless). To make matters worse, a wind is blowing parallel to the ramp in a downward direction. The wind exerts a force of \( 3000 \) \( \text{N} \). Under these conditions, can the driver continue to follow a safe horizontal circle on the exit ramp and stay below the speed limit?
To convert \( \text{mph} \) into \( \text{m/s} \), use \( 1 \) \( \text{mi} = 1607 \) \( \text{m} \) and \( 1 \) \( \text{hr} = 3600 \) \( \text{s} \).
A car is safely negotiating an unbanked circular turn at a speed of 21 m/s. The road is dry, and the maximum static frictional force acts on the tires. Suddenly a wet patch in the road decreases the maximum static frictional force to one-third its dry road value. If the car is to continue safely around the curve, to what speed must the driver slow the car?
[katex] \boxed{\mu_s \approx 0.11} [/katex]
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| Kinematics | Forces |
|---|---|
| \(\Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} at^2\) | \(F = ma\) |
| \(v = v_i + at\) | \(F_g = \frac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}\) |
| \(v^2 = v_i^2 + 2a \Delta x\) | \(f = \mu N\) |
| \(\Delta x = \frac{v_i + v}{2} t\) | \(F_s =-kx\) |
| \(v^2 = v_f^2 \,-\, 2a \Delta x\) |
| Circular Motion | Energy |
|---|---|
| \(F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}\) | \(KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2\) |
| \(a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}\) | \(PE = mgh\) |
| \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{r}{g}}\) | \(KE_i + PE_i = KE_f + PE_f\) |
| \(W = Fd \cos\theta\) |
| Momentum | Torque and Rotations |
|---|---|
| \(p = mv\) | \(\tau = r \cdot F \cdot \sin(\theta)\) |
| \(J = \Delta p\) | \(I = \sum mr^2\) |
| \(p_i = p_f\) | \(L = I \cdot \omega\) |
| Simple Harmonic Motion | Fluids |
|---|---|
| \(F = -kx\) | \(P = \frac{F}{A}\) |
| \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{l}{g}}\) | \(P_{\text{total}} = P_{\text{atm}} + \rho gh\) |
| \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}\) | \(Q = Av\) |
| \(x(t) = A \cos(\omega t + \phi)\) | \(F_b = \rho V g\) |
| \(a = -\omega^2 x\) | \(A_1v_1 = A_2v_2\) |
| Constant | Description |
|---|---|
| [katex]g[/katex] | Acceleration due to gravity, typically [katex]9.8 , \text{m/s}^2[/katex] on Earth’s surface |
| [katex]G[/katex] | Universal Gravitational Constant, [katex]6.674 \times 10^{-11} , \text{N} \cdot \text{m}^2/\text{kg}^2[/katex] |
| [katex]\mu_k[/katex] and [katex]\mu_s[/katex] | Coefficients of kinetic ([katex]\mu_k[/katex]) and static ([katex]\mu_s[/katex]) friction, dimensionless. Static friction ([katex]\mu_s[/katex]) is usually greater than kinetic friction ([katex]\mu_k[/katex]) as it resists the start of motion. |
| [katex]k[/katex] | Spring constant, in [katex]\text{N/m}[/katex] |
| [katex] M_E = 5.972 \times 10^{24} , \text{kg} [/katex] | Mass of the Earth |
| [katex] M_M = 7.348 \times 10^{22} , \text{kg} [/katex] | Mass of the Moon |
| [katex] M_M = 1.989 \times 10^{30} , \text{kg} [/katex] | Mass of the Sun |
| Variable | SI Unit |
|---|---|
| [katex]s[/katex] (Displacement) | [katex]\text{meters (m)}[/katex] |
| [katex]v[/katex] (Velocity) | [katex]\text{meters per second (m/s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]a[/katex] (Acceleration) | [katex]\text{meters per second squared (m/s}^2\text{)}[/katex] |
| [katex]t[/katex] (Time) | [katex]\text{seconds (s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]m[/katex] (Mass) | [katex]\text{kilograms (kg)}[/katex] |
| Variable | Derived SI Unit |
|---|---|
| [katex]F[/katex] (Force) | [katex]\text{newtons (N)}[/katex] |
| [katex]E[/katex], [katex]PE[/katex], [katex]KE[/katex] (Energy, Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy) | [katex]\text{joules (J)}[/katex] |
| [katex]P[/katex] (Power) | [katex]\text{watts (W)}[/katex] |
| [katex]p[/katex] (Momentum) | [katex]\text{kilogram meters per second (kgm/s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]\omega[/katex] (Angular Velocity) | [katex]\text{radians per second (rad/s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]\tau[/katex] (Torque) | [katex]\text{newton meters (Nm)}[/katex] |
| [katex]I[/katex] (Moment of Inertia) | [katex]\text{kilogram meter squared (kgm}^2\text{)}[/katex] |
| [katex]f[/katex] (Frequency) | [katex]\text{hertz (Hz)}[/katex] |
Metric Prefixes
Example of using unit analysis: Convert 5 kilometers to millimeters.
Start with the given measurement: [katex]\text{5 km}[/katex]
Use the conversion factors for kilometers to meters and meters to millimeters: [katex]\text{5 km} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{m}}{1 \, \text{km}} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{mm}}{1 \, \text{m}}[/katex]
Perform the multiplication: [katex]\text{5 km} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{m}}{1 \, \text{km}} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{mm}}{1 \, \text{m}} = 5 \times 10^3 \times 10^3 \, \text{mm}[/katex]
Simplify to get the final answer: [katex]\boxed{5 \times 10^6 \, \text{mm}}[/katex]
Prefix | Symbol | Power of Ten | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
Pico- | p | [katex]10^{-12}[/katex] | 0.000000000001 |
Nano- | n | [katex]10^{-9}[/katex] | 0.000000001 |
Micro- | µ | [katex]10^{-6}[/katex] | 0.000001 |
Milli- | m | [katex]10^{-3}[/katex] | 0.001 |
Centi- | c | [katex]10^{-2}[/katex] | 0.01 |
Deci- | d | [katex]10^{-1}[/katex] | 0.1 |
(Base unit) | – | [katex]10^{0}[/katex] | 1 |
Deca- or Deka- | da | [katex]10^{1}[/katex] | 10 |
Hecto- | h | [katex]10^{2}[/katex] | 100 |
Kilo- | k | [katex]10^{3}[/katex] | 1,000 |
Mega- | M | [katex]10^{6}[/katex] | 1,000,000 |
Giga- | G | [katex]10^{9}[/katex] | 1,000,000,000 |
Tera- | T | [katex]10^{12}[/katex] | 1,000,000,000,000 |
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