Free body diagram (centripetal force)

AI Thread Summary
To draw a free body diagram for a car going around a corner, the centripetal force must be directed towards the center of the circle. The engine force, which accelerates the car forward, is typically not necessary for this diagram. Friction plays a crucial role, acting in the direction that allows the car to maintain its circular path, usually towards the center as well. The vertical forces include weight and normal force, which balance each other out. The key point is that the net force, or centripetal force, results from the combination of these forces, and they must be represented accurately in the diagram.
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Homework Statement



simple question really - how do you draw the free body diagram for a car going around a corner?

Homework Equations



n/a

The Attempt at a Solution



i know the net force, the centripetal force, points towards the middle. i have an engine force pointing tangentally outwards...where is the missing force? is it friction? and when i try to figure out its direction i have it pointing between the engine force and centripetal force but that doesn't make sense if its friction.

am i on the right path? does this make sense so far?
 
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Yes, friction is definitely present.

Engine force usually isn't needed, but it's direction would be to accelerate the car forward.

How about forces in the vertical direction?
 
Redbelly98 said:
Yes, friction is definitely present.

Engine force usually isn't needed, but it's direction would be to accelerate the car forward.

How about forces in the vertical direction?

forces vertically would be weight and normal i think.

im trying to draw my diagram from a birds eye view. and i can't figure out which way friction would point or if there is another force too. my logic is that if there is a forward force (engine force?) there would have to be at least one other force such taht those vectors add up to the centripetal force (which is perpendicular to the engine force and points towards the center of the circle).
 
friction should be directly opposite to the engine force right?
 
fredrick08 said:
friction should be directly opposite to the engine force right?

yes but then how do those add up to the centripetal force? on the diagram it doesn't add up
 
Centripetal force is a net force on the car, it is caused by one or more of the other forces that have been mentioned.
 
Redbelly98 said:
Centripetal force is a net force on the car, it is caused by one or more of the other forces that have been mentioned.

but i thought the sum of all the forces has to equal the net force (ie, centripetal force) - how come on my diagram those force vectors don't add up to the centripetal force vector?
 
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