We are open Saturday and Sunday!

Call Now to Set Up Tutoring:

(888) 888-0446

MCAT Physical : Period, Wavelength, and Frequency

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for MCAT Physical

Create An Account

All MCAT Physical Resources

8 Diagnostic Tests 303 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Period, Wavelength, And Frequency

An amusement ride is used to teach students about centripetal force. The ride is a circlular wall that you place your back on. The wall and floor then begin to spin. Once it reaches a certain rotational velocity, the floor drops, and the students are pinned to the wall as a result of centripital force.

The diameter of the ride is 10m. The minimum frequency of rotation that results in students being pinned to the wall after the floor drops is 0.5Hz. What is the coefficient of static friction between the students and the wall?

$g= 10\frac{m}{s^2}$

Possible Answers:

1.24

0.43

0.35

0.20

0.98

Correct answer:

0.20

Explanation:

There is quite a lot going on in this problem. However, we will take it one step at a time so that you can understand the logical progression of thought it takes to solve this problem.

The first major step will be converting the frequency into a centripetal acceleration.

Convert the frequency into a velocity:

$\text{velocity} = \text{circumference}\cdot \text{frequency}$

$v= \pi df = \pi(10m)(0.5Hz) = 5\pi \frac{m}{s}$

This is how fast the outer walls of the ride are traveling. We can convert this into centripetal acceleraton using the expression:

$a_c=\frac{v^2}{r}$

$a_c = \frac{\left ( 5\pi\frac{m}{s}\right )^2}{5m} = 5\pi^2\frac{m}{s^2}$

Then, we can create an expression for centripetal force for a student with mass :

$F_c = ma_c = m5\pi^2$

Now that we have a term for the centirpetal force, we can work toward finding the force of friction. The centripetal force is also the normal force used in calculating frictional force. If the student is pinned to the wall, then the frictional force is exactly equal to the student's weight.

$F_g = mg = F_{friction} = \mu_sN$

$mg = \mu_sN$

Plugging in our expression for the normal force:

$mg = \mu_s\left (m5\pi^2 \right )$

Cancel out mass and rearrange for the coefficient of friction:

$\mu_s = \frac{g}{5\pi^2} = \frac{10\frac{m}{s^2}}{5\pi^2\frac{m}{s^2}}$

$\mu_s = 0.20$

Report an Error

View MCAT Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems Tutors

Joseph
Certified Tutor

Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Bachelor in Arts, Chemistry. Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Current Grad S...

View MCAT Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems Tutors

Denisha
Certified Tutor

Nova Southeastern University, Doctor of Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine. Nova Southeastern University, Master in Public Health, ...

View MCAT Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems Tutors

Christy
Certified Tutor

Northern Michigan University, Bachelor in Arts, Graphic Design. Northern Michigan University, Bachelor of Science, Premedicine.

All MCAT Physical Resources

8 Diagnostic Tests 303 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Popular Subjects

Reading Tutors in San Diego, SSAT Tutors in Chicago, SSAT Tutors in San Diego, Chemistry Tutors in San Diego, French Tutors in Phoenix, Spanish Tutors in New York City, Computer Science Tutors in Denver, Statistics Tutors in Phoenix, Chemistry Tutors in Washington DC, GMAT Tutors in Denver

Popular Courses & Classes

ISEE Courses & Classes in New York City, MCAT Courses & Classes in Miami, SAT Courses & Classes in Phoenix, GRE Courses & Classes in Denver, SAT Courses & Classes in Chicago, ACT Courses & Classes in Seattle, SAT Courses & Classes in Boston, ISEE Courses & Classes in Phoenix, LSAT Courses & Classes in Washington DC, SAT Courses & Classes in Atlanta

Popular Test Prep

SSAT Test Prep in Phoenix, MCAT Test Prep in Denver, ACT Test Prep in Los Angeles, GRE Test Prep in San Diego, SAT Test Prep in Denver, ISEE Test Prep in Boston, MCAT Test Prep in Chicago, SSAT Test Prep in Dallas Fort Worth, LSAT Test Prep in Los Angeles, SAT Test Prep in Washington DC

DMCA Complaint

If you believe that content available by means of the Website (as defined in our Terms of Service) infringes one or more of your copyrights, please notify us by providing a written notice (“Infringement Notice”) containing the information described below to the designated agent listed below. If Varsity Tutors takes action in response to an Infringement Notice, it will make a good faith attempt to contact the party that made such content available by means of the most recent email address, if any, provided by such party to Varsity Tutors.

Your Infringement Notice may be forwarded to the party that made the content available or to third parties such as ChillingEffects.org.

Please be advised that you will be liable for damages (including costs and attorneys’ fees) if you materially misrepresent that a product or activity is infringing your copyrights. Thus, if you are not sure content located on or linked-to by the Website infringes your copyright, you should consider first contacting an attorney.

Please follow these steps to file a notice:

You must include the following:

A physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf; An identification of the copyright claimed to have been infringed; A description of the nature and exact location of the content that you claim to infringe your copyright, in \ sufficient detail to permit Varsity Tutors to find and positively identify that content; for example we require a link to the specific question (not just the name of the question) that contains the content and a description of which specific portion of the question – an image, a link, the text, etc – your complaint refers to; Your name, address, telephone number and email address; and A statement by you: (a) that you believe in good faith that the use of the content that you claim to infringe your copyright is not authorized by law, or by the copyright owner or such owner’s agent; (b) that all of the information contained in your Infringement Notice is accurate, and (c) under penalty of perjury, that you are either the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf.

Send your complaint to our designated agent at:

Charles Cohn Varsity Tutors LLC
101 S. Hanley Rd, Suite 300
St. Louis, MO 63105

Or fill out the form below:

Do not fill in this field

Contact Information

* Full legal name

Company name

* Phone number

* Email address

Address

* Address1

Address2

* City

* State

* Zipcode

* Country

Complaint Details

* URL of copyrighted work (where your original material is located)

* Please describe the copyrighted work so that it may be easily identified

I am the owner, or an agent authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

I have a good faith belief that the use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.

This notification is accurate.

I acknowledge that there may be adverse legal consequences for making false or bad faith allegations of copyright infringement by using this process.

* Signature (your digital signature is legally binding)

HIGH SCHOOL

GRADUATE SCHOOL

K-8

Search 50+ Tests

math tutoring

science tutoring

foreign languages

elementary tutoring

other

Search 350+ Subjects

MCAT Physical : Period, Wavelength, and Frequency

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for MCAT Physical

All MCAT Physical Resources

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Period, Wavelength, And Frequency

All MCAT Physical Resources

Report an issue with this question

DMCA Complaint

Contact Information

Address

Complaint Details

Email address:
Your name:
Feedback: