How to prove a car must turn in a curve?

[CWatters]

The cars inertia will try to make it go in a straight line (a tangent to the curve). The front wheels point in a different direction so they provide a sideways force on the front of the car.

In effect inertia is trying to drag the froont wheels sideways and it's friction that provides the sideways force making the car turn. On ice you go straight on!

The same applies to an un powered soap box cart so makes no difference if the car is front or rear wheel drive.

 

[sophiecentaur]

And are these "inward" forces reaction forces normal to the planes of the front wheels caused by the "forward" forces on front wheels by the back wheels?

That would imply it would only go around a bend if it were driven! If the wheels are not being braked, then there are no tangential forces on any of the wheels. Have you looked at all diagrams, read the google hits and tried to understand what they are trying to tell you? I have a feeling that you are hanging on to some idea that is hindering you from actually getting this. Try stepping back and starting again with this problem.

 

[hihiip201]

That would imply it would only go around a bend if it were driven! If the wheels are not being braked, then there are no tangential forces on any of the wheels. Have you looked at all diagrams, read the google hits and tried to understand what they are trying to tell you? I have a feeling that you are hanging on to some idea that is hindering you from actually getting this. Try stepping back and starting again with this problem.

No I haven't yet, and I am going to just discard al preassumptions I have at this moment and read them...guess that's my best bet.I thought I knew, but I don't, not one bit, my arrogance has cost me 2 days of mental torment. And it is time I liberate myself , I will not ask anymore questions until I have squeeze every last bit of all the resources made available to me by you all good folks.