A small car of mass m and a large car of mass 4m drive along a highway at constant speed. They approach a curve of radius R. Both cars maintain the same acceleration a as they travel around the curve. How does the speed of the small car vS compare to the speed of the large car vL as they round the curve?
[Solution]
Formula of centripetal acceleration:
The acceleration and radius of two cars are the same, thus vS = vL.
Now assume that two identical cars of mass m drive along a highway. One car approaches a curve of radius 2R at speed v. The second car approaches a curve of radius 6R at a speed of 3v. How does the magnitude F1 of the net force exerted on the first car compare to the magnitude F2 of the net force exerted on the second car?
[Solution]
Formula of centripetal force: