Circular Motion

To consider moments for an object in centripetal acceleration, why should we take the object’s CoM as our pivot?

The centripetal force can be considered to act through the CoM,

This means we don’t have to include a pseudo force which would have to be included if we took the feet (accelerating) as the pivot

For an cart on a rollercoaster that goes down a slope then round a loop, where is the normal force from the cart on the passengers greatest?

The KE is greatest at the bottom of the loop, so linear speed is greatest at the bottom of the loop.

Hence the centripetal force is greatest at the bottom of the loop.

The weight of the cart is constant.

N = F + W

Hence the Normal force is greatest at the bottom of the loop.

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