Identify the use of centripetal force in:
- safe driving by banking roads
- washing machine dryers
- cream separator
1. Banking of the roads:
The curvature of the road must be inclined to control the centrifugal force of the vehicle.
Banking of roads means to make the road slide towards the centre of curvature with an angle. It is helpful because if the velocity of the car is more or there is less friction between the tyres and the road it reduces the danger of the car moving out of the circular track.
Explanation:
When a car takes a turn, the centripetal force is needed to keep it on its curved track. The friction between the tyres and the road provides the necessary centripetal force. The car would skid if the force of friction between the tyres and the road is not sufficient enough particularly when the roads are wet. This problem is solved by the banking of curved roads.
2. Washing machine dryer:
The dryer of a washing machine is a basket spinner. They have a perforated wall having large numbers of fine holes in the cylindrical rotor. The lid of the cylindrical container is closed after putting wet clothes in it. When it spins at high speed, the water from wet clothes is forced out through these holes due to a lack of centripetal force.
3. Cream Separator:
Most modern plants use a separator to control the fat contents of various products. A separator is a high-speed spinner. It acts on the same principle as centrifuge machines. The bowl spins at a very high speed causing the heavier contents of milk to move outward in the bowl pushing the lighter contents inward towards the spinning axis.
Cream or butterfat is lighter than other components in milk. Therefore, skim milk, which is denser than cream is collected at the outer wall of the bowl. The lighter part (cream) is pushed towards the centre from where it is collected through a pipe.