Car driving around a banked curve (with friction)

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TA1068
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Homework Statement


A concrete highway curve of radius 80.0 m is banked at a 13.0 degree angle.

What is the maximum speed with which a 1400 kg rubber-tired car can take this curve without sliding? (Take the static coefficient of friction of rubber on concrete to be 1.0.)


Homework Equations


[tex]F_r = \frac{mv^2}{r}[/tex]

[tex]F_f = \mu N[/tex]


The Attempt at a Solution


I have a few pieces here, but I'm not completely sure how to put them together.

There's a rotational force pulling towards the center of the circle:
[tex]F_r = \frac{mv^2}{r}[/tex]
Where mass and radius are given.

Also, there is a frictional coefficient:
[tex]F_f = \mu N[/tex]
Where [tex]\mu[/tex] is 1.0 and N is mgcos[tex]\theta[/tex] (at least I believe it is... or is it just mg?) where m, g, [tex]\mu[/tex], and [tex]\theta[/tex] are given.

I had a relatively easy time understanding problems in which there was no friction, but I can't quite figure this out. Anyone have any advice to push me in the right direction? :)
 
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You already noted that the centripedal force is towards the center of the circle, so all you need to know now is which forces have a component pointing horizontally towards the center. I suggest that you draw a free body diagram with all the forces. This will help you see which contribute (and what components) to the centripetal force.
 
carbank.gif
 
Awesome... Thank you very much! It all makes sense now. I kept treating centripetal force as a force in itself instead of a net force. Thanks again!