When you step on the accelerator to increase the speed of your car, the force that accelerates the car is eitheir the force of your foot on the accelerator, the force of friction of the road on the tires,the force of the engine on the drive shaft, or the normal force of the road on the tires.
I thought the force of the engine on the drive shaft. I am really not sure.I don't think it is your foot on the accelerator or normal force of the road on the tires.
If you were on ice, stepping on the accelerator would not move the car as fast: Perhaps you need to think on the friction between the tire and road.
You are correct in thinking that the force that accelerates the car is not the force of your foot on the accelerator or the normal force of the road on the tires. Instead, it is the force of friction between the road and the tires, as well as the force of the engine on the drive shaft.
When you step on the accelerator, you are actually increasing the fuel intake into the engine, which allows it to burn more fuel and produce more power. This power is then transferred to the drive shaft, which is connected to the wheels of the car.
The force of friction between the road and the tires is what allows the wheels to grip the surface of the road and propel the car forward. The friction between the tires and the road is dependent on several factors, including the type of surface (such as ice, as you mentioned), the condition of the tires, and the amount of weight pressing down on the tires (which is the normal force of the road on the tires).
On an icy surface, the friction between the tires and the road is reduced, making it harder for the tires to grip the surface. As a result, stepping on the accelerator would not move the car as fast because there is less force available to accelerate the car.
To summarize, the force that ultimately accelerates the car is a combination of the force of the engine on the drive shaft and the force of friction between the road and the tires. The normal force of the road on the tires provides the necessary contact for the friction to occur.