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8. Centripetal Forces & Gravitation
Uniform Circular Motion
Problem 55
Textbook Question
A bug walks outward from the center of a turntable that is rotating at 65 rpm. If the coefficient of static friction between the bug and the turntable is 0.42, how far out from the center does the bug get before it starts to slip on the turntable? What happens to the bug after it moves farther out past that point?

1
Convert the rotational speed of the turntable from revolutions per minute (rpm) to angular velocity in radians per second. Use the formula: \( \omega = \frac{2\pi \times \text{rpm}}{60} \).
Determine the maximum static friction force that can act on the bug. The formula is \( F_{\text{friction}} = \mu_s \cdot m \cdot g \), where \( \mu_s \) is the coefficient of static friction, \( m \) is the mass of the bug, and \( g \) is the acceleration due to gravity.
Relate the centripetal force required to keep the bug in circular motion to the static friction force. The centripetal force is given by \( F_{\text{centripetal}} = m \cdot r \cdot \omega^2 \), where \( r \) is the distance from the center of the turntable and \( \omega \) is the angular velocity.
Set the maximum static friction force equal to the centripetal force and solve for \( r \), the maximum distance the bug can move outward before slipping: \( \mu_s \cdot m \cdot g = m \cdot r \cdot \omega^2 \). Simplify to find \( r = \frac{\mu_s \cdot g}{\omega^2} \).
After the bug moves farther out past the calculated point, the static friction is no longer sufficient to provide the required centripetal force. As a result, the bug will begin to slip and move tangentially to the turntable's rotation due to inertia, following a straight-line path relative to the turntable.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Centripetal Force
Centripetal force is the net force required to keep an object moving in a circular path, directed towards the center of the circle. For the bug on the turntable, this force is provided by static friction between the bug and the surface. As the bug moves outward, the required centripetal force increases due to the greater distance from the center, which affects the frictional force available.
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Static Friction
Static friction is the force that resists the initiation of sliding motion between two surfaces in contact. It is characterized by a maximum value, determined by the coefficient of static friction and the normal force. In this scenario, the bug can only remain stationary on the turntable until the required centripetal force exceeds the maximum static friction force, leading to slipping.
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Static Friction & Equilibrium
Coefficient of Static Friction
The coefficient of static friction is a dimensionless value that represents the ratio of the maximum static friction force to the normal force acting between two surfaces. It indicates how much force is needed to overcome static friction. In this case, a coefficient of 0.42 means that the frictional force can support the bug's weight up to a certain point, beyond which the bug will slip as it moves outward on the turntable.
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