Question

A block is hung by a string from the inside roof of a van. When the van goes straight ahead at a speed of 29 m/s, the block hangs vertically down. But when the van maintains this same speed around an unbanked curve (radius = 135 m), the block swings toward the outside of the curve. Then the string makes an angle θ with the vertical. Find θ

Answer 1

tanTheta= centripetal acceleration/g

centripetal acceleration= v^2/r
solve for theta.

Answer 2

Got it. Thank you!