How to Calculate Tangential Force

Use the fact that the only force needed to keep an object in circular motion at a
constant speed is a centripetal force, F_c, which points towards the center of the
circle. But if the speed of the object is changing, then there must also be a force in
the direction of motion, which is tangential to the path. An example of this is the
force from the engine of a car causing it to speed up when going around a curve or
the force of friction slowing it to stop.

Imagine that a driver takes his foot off of the accelerator and lets a 2,500 kilogram
car coast to a stop beginning from a starting speed of 15 meters/second while
steering it around a circular curve with a radius of 25 meters. The car coasts 30
meters and takes 45 seconds to stop.

Calculate the acceleration of the car. The formula incorporating the position, x(t),
at time t as a function of the initial position, x(0), the initial velocity, v(0), and the
acceleration, a, is x(t) – x(0) = v(0)∙t + 1/2∙a∙t^2. Plug in x(t) – x(0) = 30 meters, v(0)
= 15 meters per second and t = 45 seconds and solve for the tangential
acceleration: a_t = –0.637 meters per second squared.

Use Newton’s second law F = m∙a to find that friction must have applied a
tangential force of F_t = m∙a_t = 2,500×(–0.637)= –1,593 Newtons.