Finding the range of speed on a banked curve without slipping

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a banked curve with a radius of 60 m designed for a speed of 100 km/h, and it seeks to determine the range of speeds at which a car can safely navigate the turn, considering a coefficient of static friction of 0.30.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between the design speed and the role of friction in maintaining the car's path on the banked curve. There are attempts to derive equations for maximum and minimum speeds, with some questioning the direction of frictional forces and their impact on the normal force.

Discussion Status

Several participants have shared their calculations and reasoning, with some expressing uncertainty about their results. There is an ongoing exploration of the effects of friction on the forces acting on the car, and guidance has been provided regarding the direction of friction in different speed scenarios. No consensus has been reached yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of the problem statement, including the specified radius, design speed, and coefficient of static friction. There are discussions about the assumptions made regarding the forces involved and the conditions for safe navigation of the curve.

totallyclone
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Homework Statement


A curve of radius 60 m is banked for a design speed of 100km/h. If the coefficient of static friction is 0.30, at what range of speeds can a car safely make the turn.


Homework Equations


Fun=ma
Ff=μsFn
Fc=mV2/r


The Attempt at a Solution


So, when it is "designed" for 100km/h that means there is no friction at 100km/h or 27.8m/s so this is my fbd for this speed. I've tried working it out and I manage to get okay looking answers but I'm not sure if I'm doing it right... :P
tumblr_mk8mi4yIz71qe908uo1_500.jpg

So, there is no acceleration in the Y-component:
ƩFy=ma
Fny-Fg=0
Fny=Fg
Fncosθ=mg 1st eqn.

For the X-component, there is acceleration which is the centripetal acceleration:
ƩFx=ma
Fnx=mV2/r
Fnsinθ=mV2/r 2nd eqn.

Now, to find the angle of the bank at that "design", so I isolated for θ:
2nd eqn./1st eqn.
Fnsinθ/Fncosθ=(mV2/r)(1/mg)
tanθ=V2/rg
θ=tan-1(27.82/60x9.8)
θ=52.7°

Now that I found the angle it is for 100km/h to make the turn in the bank without the need for friction, I'm trying to find the maximum speed for it in order not to slide up the bank so now I'll throw in friction and this is my fbd.
tumblr_mk8mxcZxmc1qe908uo1_500.jpg

So I'll use the same concept with the Fun=ma just that I have Ff now:

ƩFy=0
mg=μsFnsinθ-Fncosθ eqn.1

ƩFx=ma
Ffx-Fnx=mv2/r
μsFncosθ-Fnsinθ=mv2/r eqn.2

eqn.2/eqn.1
(mv2/r)(1/mg)=(μsFncosθ-Fnsinθ)/(μsFnsinθ-Fncosθ)
V2/rg=(μscosθ-sinθ)/(μssinθ-cosθ)
V=√(rg(μscosθ-sinθ))/(μssinθ-cosθ)
V=31.3m/s
V=113km/h

So, that is the maximum speed for it in order not to slip up the bank. Now, I want to find the minimum.
I just flip some signs around in my fbd so:
ƩFy=0
Fg-Fny=0
mg=Fncosθ eqn.1

ƩFx=ma
Fnx-Ffx=mv2/r
Fnsinθ-μsFncosθ=mv2/r eqn.2

eqn.2/eqn.1
(mv2/r)(1/mg)=(Fnsinθ-μsFncosθ)/Fncosθ
V2/rg=(sinθ-μscosθ)/cosθ
V=24.4m/s
V=87.8km/s

∴Range of speed in order to make the turn safely is from 87.8km/h to 113km/h.

I appreciate if there's any corrections or pointers that I missed or anything! :)
 
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totallyclone said:

Homework Statement


A curve of radius 60 m is banked for a design speed of 100km/h. If the coefficient of static friction is 0.30, at what range of speeds can a car safely make the turn.


Homework Equations


Fun=ma
Ff=μsFn
Fc=mV2/r


The Attempt at a Solution


So, when it is "designed" for 100km/h that means there is no friction at 100km/h or 27.8m/s so this is my fbd for this speed. I've tried working it out and I manage to get okay looking answers but I'm not sure if I'm doing it right... :P
[ IMG]http://24.media.tumblr.com/2bb5bea0ef717a347f78a1a9eee3a18e/tumblr_mk8mi4yIz71qe908uo1_500.jpg[/PLAIN]
So, there is no acceleration in the Y-component:
ƩFy=ma
Fny-Fg=0
Fny=Fg
Fncosθ=mg 1st eqn.

For the X-component, there is acceleration which is the centripetal acceleration:
ƩFx=ma
Fnx=mV2/r
Fnsinθ=mV2/r 2nd eqn.

Now, to find the angle of the bank at that "design", so I isolated for θ:
2nd eqn./1st eqn.
Fnsinθ/Fncosθ=(mV2/r)(1/mg)
tanθ=V2/rg
That answer looks good !

θ=tan-1(27.82/60x9.8)
θ=52.7°

Now that I found the angle it is for 100km/h to make the turn in the bank without the need for friction, I'm trying to find the maximum speed for it in order not to slide up the bank so now I'll throw in friction and this is my fbd.
tumblr_mk8mxcZxmc1qe908uo1_500.jpg

So I'll use the same concept with the Fun=ma just that I have Ff now:

ƩFy=0
mg=μsFnsinθ-Fncosθ eqn.1
That should be \displaystyle \ \ mg=F_n\cos(\theta)-\mu_sF_n\sin(\theta)\ .

ƩFx=ma
Ffx-Fnx=mv2/r
μsFncosθ-Fnsinθ=mv2/r eqn.2
That should be \displaystyle \ \ \mu_sF_n\cos(\theta)+F_n\sin(\theta)=m\frac{v^2}{r}\ .

If we're looking at maximum speed, then the direction of friction is down the incline & toward the center of the curve.


eqn.2/eqn.1
(mv2/r)(1/mg)=(μsFncosθ-Fnsinθ)/(μsFnsinθ-Fncosθ)
V2/rg=(μscosθ-sinθ)/(μssinθ-cosθ)
V=√(rg(μscosθ-sinθ))/(μssinθ-cosθ)
V=31.3m/s
V=113km/h

So, that is the maximum speed for it in order not to slip up the bank. Now, I want to find the minimum.
I just flip some signs around in my fbd so:
ƩFy=0
Fg-Fny=0
mg=Fncosθ eqn.1

ƩFx=ma
Fnx-Ffx=mv2/r
Fnsinθ-μsFncosθ=mv2/r eqn.2

eqn.2/eqn.1
(mv2/r)(1/mg)=(Fnsinθ-μsFncosθ)/Fncosθ
V2/rg=(sinθ-μscosθ)/cosθ
V=24.4m/s
V=87.8km/s

∴Range of speed in order to make the turn safely is from 87.8km/h to 113km/h.

I appreciate if there's any corrections or pointers that I missed or anything! :)
For the minimum speed, just reverse the signs on the force of friction.
 
SammyS said:
That answer looks good !


That should be \displaystyle \ \ mg=F_n\cos(\theta)-\mu_sF_n\sin(\theta)\ .


That should be \displaystyle \ \ \mu_sF_n\cos(\theta)+F_n\sin(\theta)=m\frac{v^2}{r}\ .

If we're looking at maximum speed, then the direction of friction is down the incline & toward the center of the curve.



For the minimum speed, just reverse the signs on the force of friction.

Alright, so I've corrected my mistakes for finding maximum speed and I've worked it out and it makes so much sense. I thought the Ff is pointing away from the incline because isn't Ff what's keeping you from sliding down the bank? But anyways, I corrected and worked it out for maximum speed:

ƩFy=0
Fg-Fny+Ffy=0
Fg=Fny-Ffy
mg=Fncos-μsFnsinθ eqn.1

ƩFx=ma
Ffx+Fnx=mv2/r
μsFncosθ+Fnsinθ=mv2/r eqn.2

eqn.2/eqn.1
(mv2/r)/(1/mg)=(μsFncosθ+Fnsinθ)/(Fncos-μsFnsinθ)
v2/rg=(μscosθ+sinθ)/(cos-μssinθ)
v=√[rg(μsFncosθ+Fnsinθ)]/(Fncos-μsFnsinθ)
v=39.6m/s
v=143km/h ∴maximum speed

This makes more sense than my previous answer (113km/h) because since it's designed for 100km/h because a 13km/h allowance would be kind of... little... to be able to make that curve.

Now, for the minimum. You said to change the directions of the Ff. Would Ff now point away from the center? So:
ƩFy=0
Fg-Fny-Ffy=0
Fg=Fny+Ffy
mg=Fncosθ+μsFnsinθ eqn.1

I'm unsure how I would put it for ƩFx=ma... would it be
Fnx-Ffx=mv2/r
OR
Ffx-Fnx=mv2/r
?
 
If you're taking the curve very fast, the the car will tend to go up the banking. Friction will help prevent that by pointing down the banking toward the center of the curve. It helps the normal force produce centripetal force (toward the center of the circle).

If you're taking the curve very slowly, the the car will tend to want to slide down the banking. Friction will help prevent that by pointing up the banking which happens to be away from the center of the curve. It opposes the normal force as far as producing centripetal force .

For the minimum speed: Use the same equations as for max. speed but change the signs on the frictional force ... in both equations.
 
SammyS said:
If you're taking the curve very fast, the the car will tend to go up the banking. Friction will help prevent that by pointing down the banking toward the center of the curve. It helps the normal force produce centripetal force (toward the center of the circle).

If you're taking the curve very slowly, the the car will tend to want to slide down the banking. Friction will help prevent that by pointing up the banking which happens to be away from the center of the curve. It opposes the normal force as far as producing centripetal force .

For the minimum speed: Use the same equations as for max. speed but change the signs on the frictional force ... in both equations.

That makes sense! So for the minimum speed, the car tends to slide down the bank so that means Fnx would be greater than Ffx but Ffx still prevents it from sliding therefore it is:
ƩFx=ma
Fnx-Ffx=mv2/r
Fnsinθ-μsFncosθ=mv2/r eqn.2

eqn.2/eqn.1
(mv2/r)/(1/mg)=(Fnsinθ-μsFncosθ)/(Fncosθ+μsFnsinθ)
V=√[rg(sinθ-μscosθ)/(cosθ+μssinθ)]
V=20.7m/s
V=74.5km/h

So that tends to be my minimum value.

This makes much more sense. And plus, I tried the other way and I turned out getting an error ∴ it does not exist so yeah.
 

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