Question

what is the difference between these two formulas $fc = \frac{m(v {}^{2}) }{r}$$ac = \frac{v {}^{2} }{r}$and how would I apply them to a promblem?

Answer 1

One is centripetal acceleration (ac) and the other one is centripetal force (fc)

Since = F = m* a

F = force

m= mass

a= acceleration

For centripetal force (Fc), we use centripetal acceleration

Fc= m * ac

ac= centripetal acceleration = v^2 / r

r= radius

v= linear velocity

So, in the end, we have:

Fc = m * v^2 /r

You can apply the to find the Centripetal force of an object with a certain mass, that negotiates a certain radius curve, with a certain speed.