A 9.5-kg monkey is hanging by one arm from a branch and is swinging on a vertical circle. As an approximation, assume a radial distance of 70 cm between the branch and the point where the monkey's mass is located. As the monkey swings through the lowest point on the circle, it has a speed of 3.4 m/s.

Question

A 9.5-kg monkey is hanging by one arm from a branch and is swinging on a vertical circle. As an approximation, assume a radial distance of 70 cm between the branch and the point where the monkey's mass is located. As the monkey swings through the lowest point on the circle, it has a speed of 3.4 m/s.
(a) Find the magnitude of the centripetal force acting on the monkey.

drwls · Answer

Fnet = M a = M V^2/R

Tension - M g = M V^2/R

"tension" is the net centripetal force actng upon the monkey by the arm he is swinging with. That is what you want to calculate.

T = M (g + V^2/R)
= 9.5 kg*[9.8 m/s^2 + (3.4^2 m^2/s^2)/0.7 m)]

The answer will be in Newtons.

Anonymous · Answer

thanx so much 4 explaining it drwls!!!