Centripetal Force, and Car Drifting Question

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the forces acting on a car while it is drifting, specifically focusing on centripetal force and friction. Participants explore the relationship between these forces and the conditions under which a car can maintain its path during a turn.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants raise questions about the forces keeping the car on the road, the sum of forces along the road surface, and the acceleration of the car in relation to its speed and turning radius. There is also discussion about the relationship between centripetal force and kinetic friction at maximum speed.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active with participants questioning assumptions about the forces involved and clarifying the nature of friction in the context of the problem. Some guidance has been offered regarding the relationship between centripetal force and frictional force, but multiple interpretations of the scenario are being explored.

Contextual Notes

There is an emphasis on the type of friction (static vs. kinetic) that applies in this scenario, and the lack of specific details about the road width may influence the assumptions made by participants.

SherlockIsReal
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Are there any forces other than friction keeping the car on the road?

What do all the forces along road surface sum to?

What is the acceleration of the car in terms of its speed and radius of its turn?

AM
 
Andrew Mason said:
Are there any forces other than friction keeping the car on the road?

What do all the forces along road surface sum to?

What is the acceleration of the car in terms of its speed and radius of its turn?

AM
Are you asking me what I think or are you verifying the question?
 
SherlockIsReal said:
Are you asking me what I think or are you verifying the question?
I am just pointing out the questions you need to answer. You have to do the thinking.

AM
 
Andrew Mason said:
I am just pointing out the questions you need to answer. You have to do the thinking.

AM
My bad, and thanks!
 
Andrew Mason said:
I am just pointing out the questions you need to answer. You have to do the thinking.

AM
Would it be right to assume Force centripetal = Force kinetic friction, if the car were to achieve maximum speed? As for the second part, does it mean that the coefficient for kinetic friction has increased?
 
SherlockIsReal said:
Would it be right to assume Force centripetal = Force kinetic friction, if the car were to achieve maximum speed? As for the second part, does it mean that the coefficient for kinetic friction has increased?
Yes, centripetal force will equal frictional force, but I wouldn't call it an assumption. You can deduce it from the usual equations of dynamics.
It's a bit strange that the question discusses kinetic friction in the first part. Since no width of road is specified, you have to assume it does not skid in this part, so it will be static friction.
 

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