A bicyclist is riding at a tangential speed of
13.2 m/s around a circular track with a radius
of 36.5 m.
If the magnitude of the force that maintains
the bike’s circular motion is 378 N, what is the
combined mass of the bicycle and rider?
Answer in units of kg
To find the combined mass of the bicycle and the rider, we can use the centripetal force formula:
Force = (mass * tangential speed^2) / radius
Given:
Tangential speed (v) = 13.2 m/s
Radius (r) = 36.5 m
Force (F) = 378 N
Rearranging the formula, we can solve for mass:
mass = (Force * radius) / tangential speed^2
Substituting the given values:
mass = (378 N * 36.5 m) / (13.2 m/s)^2
Now let's calculate it: