Calculating Horizontal Force of Toy Car Wheels

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SUMMARY

The horizontal force exerted by the wheels of a toy car can be calculated using Newton's 2nd law, given the acceleration and the coefficient of friction. With a coefficient of friction of 0.62 and an acceleration of 0.40056 m/s², the normal force is essential for determining the frictional force. Although the mass of the car is unknown, the torque of the motor (0.0382 Nm) and the wheel size (85 mm diameter) provide additional context for calculating the force. The motor drives one rear wheel, which influences the overall dynamics of the toy car.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's 2nd law of motion
  • Knowledge of friction coefficients and their application
  • Basic concepts of torque and rotational motion
  • Familiarity with units of measurement in physics (e.g., m/s², Nm)
NEXT STEPS
  • Calculate the normal force using the mass of the toy car once known
  • Explore the relationship between torque and force in rotating systems
  • Investigate the effects of different coefficients of friction on performance
  • Learn about the dynamics of toy car design and motor specifications
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physics students, toy car enthusiasts, and engineers interested in understanding the mechanics of small-scale vehicles and their performance characteristics.

saracen
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How do i find out the horizontal force the wheels on a toy car exert on the ground if i know the acceleration and the coefficient of friction?

I have a coefficient of friction of 0.62
and an acceleration of 0.40056 m/s^2


Any help is helpful =) thank you.
 
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If you know the mass of the car, and if friction is the only horizontal force acting on the car, then use Newton's 2nd law.
 
I do not know the mass of the car, so i cannot get the normal force.

However, I've just read above the question and it says that the electric motor for the car directly drives _one_ of the rear wheels. I'm not sure how this could help, but what i know about the motor is that it has a torque of 0.0382 Nm, 15 rev/s, and the wheel size is 85 mm dia.
 
Last edited:

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