Calculating Minimum Coefficient of Friction for Safe Highway Curves

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion centers around calculating the minimum coefficient of friction required for vehicles to safely navigate a banked circular highway curve under specific conditions, including a reduced speed and wet road conditions. The problem involves concepts from physics related to circular motion and friction.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to identify the forces at play, particularly centripetal force, but expresses confusion regarding the lack of mass information. Participants suggest drawing a diagram and writing down relevant equations, noting that mass will cancel out in the calculations. There is a question about the absence of an angle in the problem setup.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different aspects of the problem. Some guidance has been offered regarding the importance of diagrams and equations, while the lack of an angle and assumptions about friction in rainy conditions are being questioned.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the absence of an angle may impact the analysis, and there is a suggestion that friction may be negligible due to the wet conditions. The original poster is working with limited information regarding vehicle mass and road conditions.

shawpeez
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A banked circular highway curve is designed for traffic moving at 60km/h. The radius of the curve is 200m. Traffic is moving along the highway at 40km/h on a rainy day. What is the minimum coeficient of friction between tires and road that will alow cars to take the turn without sliding off the road? (assume the cars do not have negative lift.)

I have a feeling Centripetal force is involved, but it gives no mass of a vehicle. I m pretty much lost, could someone point me in the right direction please!:smile:
 
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Draw a diagram, in a problem like this, it is crucial. Write down the equations you think you need. Try to solve for the coefficient. Mass will cancel out. Is the angle given?
 
no there is no angle given
 
Well then I suppose you are supposed to assume there's no friction when it rains.
 

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