centripetal force/mechanics (1 Viewer)

[mickeyd14]

hey
from what i know centripetal force acts towards the centre
however, when doing most mechanics questions, centripetal force acts outwards?
this is especially true in questions regarding banked tracks. could someone clear this up for me?

 

[vafa]

Centripetal force always inwards along the normal to its path (i.e. towards O).
Source: Coroneos 43 unit supplement page 162

 

[mickeyd14]

i understand that but often in questions i find that it has to be directed outwards, away from the cetnre. does anyone else know what i mean?

 

[vafa]

If you can type one of those questions, then we can help each other. I have never seen what you said. it contradicts with the what I learnt.

 

[zeek]

it's not meant to act outwards... like vafa said it's always inwards

maybe you're talking about the reaction force? sometimes the component of forces act outwards

 

[ianc]

yeah with the banked tracks, you may be getting confused because even though the force is acting towards the centre of motion, it can look as if in some diagrams it is simply acting outwards from the track.