Acar of mass 800kg goes round a corner of radius 65m at a speed of 10m/s. a) what size force is needed to achieve this? b) suggest how this force is likely to be obtained. c) what force would be needed if the driver approached the bend at twice the speed?
a) centripetal force ... f = m v^2 / r
b) "where the rubber meets the road" ... tire friction
c) from the equation ... doubling the velocity would quadruple the force
Solution for this question
Kebado
To answer all these questions, we need to consider the centripetal force acting on the car as it goes around the corner. The centripetal force is the force that keeps an object moving in a circular path, and it acts toward the center of the circle.
a) The formula to calculate centripetal force is: Centripetal force = (mass x velocity^2) / radius
Substituting the given values:
Mass (m) = 800 kg
Velocity (v) = 10 m/s
Radius (r) = 65 m
Centripetal force = (800 kg x (10 m/s)^2) / 65 m
Using the formula, we can calculate the centripetal force required.
b) The force needed to achieve this will likely come from friction between the tires of the car and the road. This is known as the frictional force. As the car goes around the corner, friction between the tires and the road provides the necessary force to change the car's direction.
c) If the driver approaches the bend at twice the speed, the formula for centripetal force remains the same, but the velocity will change to 2 times the initial speed, i.e., 20 m/s. All other values remain the same.
Centripetal force = (800 kg x (20 m/s)^2) / 65 m
Using the formula, we can calculate the new centripetal force required when the driver approaches the bend at twice the speed.
Please note that these calculations assume ideal conditions and neglect other factors like air resistance. In real-world situations, these factors may affect the exact amounts of force required.