Understanding Vertical Circular Motion

What sensation do you experience when driving over a hill or through a valley?

• Feeling of weightlessness

• Feeling of constant speed

• Feeling of increased weight

• Feeling of dizziness

What is the normal reaction force?

• A force parallel to the surface

• A force perpendicular to the surface

• A force that changes direction randomly

• A force that acts only in a vacuum

How is centripetal force calculated?

• Mass times velocity squared divided by radius

• Mass times velocity

• Mass times velocity squared

• Mass times radius

At the bottom of a vertical circle, which force must be greater?

• Air resistance

• Normal reaction force

• Gravitational force

• Frictional force

What happens to the normal reaction force at the top of a vertical circle?

• It becomes zero

• It points downward

• It is less than gravitational force

• It is greater than gravitational force

What is the perceived sensation when the normal reaction force is less than gravitational force?

• Feeling heavier

• Feeling lighter

• Feeling dizzy

• Feeling constant speed

What is the ultimate example of weightlessness?

• Walking on a flat surface

• Riding a roller coaster

• Flying in the vomit comet

• Driving over a hill

In a loop-de-loop, what must be true for the car to maintain contact with the track?

• Centripetal force must be zero

• Gravitational force must be zero

• Normal reaction force must be greater than zero

• Normal reaction force must be zero

What is the minimum velocity required to complete a loop-de-loop?

• Square root of gravity times radius

• Square root of velocity times radius

• Square root of mass times radius

• Square root of gravity times mass

What does the normal reaction force represent in terms of weight?

• Gravitational force

• Weightlessness

• Perceived weight

• Actual weight