At a shipping facility, an inclined conveyor belt carries parcels at a constant speed of 2.0 m s−12.0\text{ m s}^{-1}2.0 m s−1.
The situation in a vertical cross-section of the straight ramp is shown above. The frictional force FFF prevents the parcel of weight WWW and mass 12.0 kg12.0\text{ kg}12.0 kg from sliding down the belt. The normal contact force on the parcel is RRR. The belt is inclined at an angle of 25∘25^\circ25∘ to the horizontal.
By resolving forces, calculate the magnitude of forces FFF and RRR for this straight section of the conveyor belt.
The conveyor belt now curves in a horizontal plane around a central column along the line labelled YY'.
The centre of mass of the parcel is moving at 2.0 m s−12.0\text{ m s}^{-1}2.0 m s−1 along a horizontal circular arc of radius 4.0 m4.0\text{ m}4.0 m.
Calculate the magnitude of the centripetal force acting on the parcel.
When the parcel is on this curved section at line YY', the magnitude of force FFF is larger and the magnitude of force RRR is smaller than when it is on the straight section XX'. Explain why this is so.
