Friction forces playing the role of centripetal force

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on how friction forces act as centripetal forces during a car's uniform circular motion. Specifically, it highlights that the friction between the tires and the road surface enables the car to navigate turns without sliding. A free body diagram illustrates the relationship between the direction of the front and rear tires and the resulting circular path. The cornering load, defined as the product of centripetal acceleration and the car's mass, generates equal and opposite forces at the tire contact patches, facilitating the car's movement along the curve.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of uniform circular motion principles
  • Knowledge of free body diagrams and force analysis
  • Familiarity with tire dynamics and friction forces
  • Basic physics concepts related to centripetal acceleration
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the mechanics of friction in vehicle dynamics
  • Learn about free body diagram construction for vehicles
  • Explore the effects of tire deformation on cornering performance
  • Research centripetal acceleration calculations in circular motion
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Automotive engineers, physics students, and anyone interested in vehicle dynamics and the mechanics of motion in circular paths.

ksio.amaral89
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Can you describe( graphically,like a diagram,or a picture) how a friction force plays the role of the centripetal force?For example, a car performing an uniform circular motion on a plane in a idela situation.The car will perform the turn because of friction forces between tyres and surface.But I can't visualize it so clearly as a situation which consists of a wire attached to a rigid body which makes it spin around an axis,assuming the tension exerted on the cable the role of centripetal force.In the case of friction on steering tyres,I accept friction force having the same direction as the centripetal force because the radial acceleration has the same direction and sense as the latter(as m numeric value in F=ma is always positive ).So,can you help me would a free body diagram would be drawn?
 
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The angle beween the direction of the front tires and the rear tires and the distance from front to rear tires determines the geometrical circular path the car would take if there is no load. The car follows the circular path because the tires roll in that direction and are not sliding across the pavement. Due to a twisting like deformation of the contact patch of the tires, the actual path radius will be slightly larger than the geometrical radius, depending on how far "outwards" the contact patch is twisted, which is related to the side load and stiffness of the tires.

The cornering load (centripetal acceleration times mass of car) results in an equal and opposing pair of forces at the tire contact patches; the tires exert an outwards force onto the pavement, coexistant with the pavement exerting an inwards force on the tires.
 
Yeah,that really makes sense.The solution was not so simple as I expected it to be,but I got it now.
 

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