You swing a 5.9 kg bucket of water in a vertical circle of radius 0.3 m.

(a) What speed must the bucket have if it is to complete the circle without spilling any water?

(b) How does your answer depend on the mass of the bucket?

a) I don't understand how the velocity can be determined without knowing what force keeps the water in the bucket.

b) I believe that as increases speed increases. Is that correct?

1 answer

a) Require that MV^2/R > or = Mg

V >or= sqrt(gR)

That means that there is a net downward force applied by the bucket on the water at the top of the swing. It stays in the bucket.

b) The required V is is independent of bucket mass