Normal Force on Driver in Hill and Valley

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Dynamics Beginner Circular Motion

Source: High school physics (Chinese)

Problem

A car is driven at a constant speed $v$ over a circular hill and then into a circular valley, both with the same radius $R$. The driver has a mass $m$. At the top of the hill, the normal force on the driver from the car seat is zero.

What is the magnitude of the normal force on the driver from the seat when the car passes through the bottom of the valley?
P0430-problem-1

P0430-problem-1

$N_{bottom} = 2mg$

Let $g$ be the acceleration due to gravity. The driver undergoes uniform circular motion, so the net force on the driver provides the centripetal force $F_c = mv^2/R$.

At the top of the hill, the gravitational force $mg$ acts downwards and the normal force $N_{top}$ acts upwards. The net force is directed downwards, towards the center of the circle. Applying Newton's second law:

$$mg - N_{top} = \frac{mv^2}{R}$$

Given that $N_{top} = 0$, the equation simplifies to:

$$mg = \frac{mv^2}{R} \implies v^2 = gR$$

At the bottom of the valley, the gravitational force $mg$ acts downwards and the normal force $N_{bottom}$ acts upwards. The net force is directed upwards, towards the center of the circle. Applying Newton's second law:

$$N_{bottom} - mg = \frac{mv^2}{R}$$

Substitute the expression for $v^2$ found from the condition at the top of the hill:

$$N_{bottom} = mg + \frac{m(gR)}{R} = mg + mg$$ $$N_{bottom} = 2mg$$