Loops & g-Forces

Upside down without falling

An interactive lesson with 6 steps, about 5 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• Bottom of a loop: $N = m(g + v^2/r)$. You feel heavier.
• Top: $N = m(v^2/r - g)$. You feel lighter, and need $v^2 \geq gr$.
• A frictionless loop needs a start at least $2.5r$ high.

Steps

1. At the top and bottom
2. Make it round the loop
3. Feeling heavy
4. Teardrop loops
5. Heavy at the bottom
6. How high to start?