How Does Static Friction Determine a Car's Maximum Acceleration?

[Hailcanadien]

Homework Statement

What is the maximum acceleration a car can undergo if the coefficient of static friction between the tires and the ground is 0.38?

that is it, no mass or anything else

Homework Equations

F=ma
(friction coefficient)Fn=Ffr
Fn = normal force
Ffr = friction force

The Attempt at a Solution

I have tried different things, but I can't figure out how to do the problem without a mass...

 

[rl.bhat]

Show your calculations.
The car will start moving when the applied force overcomes the frictional force.

 

[AEM]

1.
I have tried different things, but I can't figure out how to do the problem without a mass...

The fact that no mass is given should be a clue. In other words you can expect that the mass of the car will cancel from the equation you want to develop.

The previous hint was not quite correct. In essence you can think of the car being the car is accelerated by any force less than, or just equal to the static frictional force between the tires and the road. Above that and the tires will spin causing rubber to be burned and the car accelerates more slowly.

Hence you need to combine F = ma and your equation for the frictional force. Remember that the frictional force is given by the coefficient of static friction times the normal force. What is the normal force? There you will find a mass that will cancel the m in F = ma.