A race car driver drives her 1500 kg car around a circular turn, which is banked at an angle of 20 degrees to the horizontal. If the car is traveling around the frictionless curve of radius 100m,

a) What is providing the center-seeking force on the car? (ie. centripetal force)
b) What other force could provide a center-seeking force in a real life situation?

a) gravity, the car tends to slide down the bank.

b) friction.

19 m/s

a) The centripetal force that is providing the center-seeking force on the car is the horizontal component of the normal force. In this case, it is the force exerted by the track on the car directed towards the center of the circular path.

b) In a real-life situation, other forces that could provide a center-seeking force include:
- Friction between the tires and the road surface: This is the most common force that provides the centripetal force in real-life driving situations. The friction force between the tires and the road acts towards the center of the turn, allowing the car to make the turn without skidding.
- Aerodynamic forces: At high speeds, the aerodynamic forces acting on the car may contribute to the overall centripetal force. These forces are usually small compared to the friction force, but they can still be significant, especially in sports cars or race cars with specialized aerodynamics designed to generate downforce.
- Gravitational force: In some situations, the gravitational force can also act as a center-seeking force. For example, on a banked curve, the component of the gravitational force parallel to the circular path can contribute to the overall centripetal force. However, in the given scenario, the banked track itself is providing the necessary centripetal force, and the gravitational force is not the primary force responsible.

a) The center-seeking force, or centripetal force, on the race car is provided by the friction between the tires of the car and the road surface. This friction acts towards the center of the circular path and allows the car to continuously change its direction while moving in a circular motion.

b) In a real-life situation, other forces that could provide a center-seeking force include:

1. Friction: Apart from the friction between the tires and road surface, friction between other parts of the car can also provide a center-seeking force. For example, the friction between the air flowing over the car's body and the car itself can act as a centripetal force.

2. Aerodynamic Forces: The shape and design of the car can create aerodynamic forces that act towards the center of the turn. These forces can be generated by the shape of the car's body, spoilers, wings, or other aerodynamic components. These forces help to keep the car stable and maintain its desired trajectory.

3. Gravitational Force: Although gravity is generally not considered a centripetal force, it can have an effect on the motion of the car. The force of gravity can create a downward force component, which can help to maintain the car's contact with the road. This facilitates the generation of the necessary friction force for the car to follow the curved path.

It is important to note that in the absence of any external forces, an object moving in a straight line will continue moving in a straight line. Therefore, any force that deflects the object from its straight-line path can be considered a center-seeking force in a curved motion scenario.