How do tires create momentum and change axes in a car turning right?

In summary, when a car traveling north makes a right turn to head east, the frictional force between the tires and the road causes the Earth to move slightly north and west. This is due to the Earth's larger mass compared to the car. The tires act as guidance jets, allowing the car to turn and face east while continuing to travel north. This concept is explained further by the "Circle of Forces" principle.
  • #1
RobertArvanitis
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A car traveling north makes a right turn, to head east.
How do the tires completely offset py and simultaneously create px?
(If the tires merely acted like guidance jets, it might turn to face east but continue traveling north.
 
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  • #2
The frictional force between the tyres and the road starts the Earth moving north and west. Since the Earth is a lot more massive than the car, the movement is very slight.
 
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  • #3
Ibix said:
The frictional force between the tyres and the road starts the Earth moving north and west. Since the Earth is a lot more massive than the car, the movement is very slight.

Not the "friendly" sort of answer that PF proclaims...
Usually work through questions on my own; thought there might be someone who's been there ahead of me. Here's the sort of thing I was thinking about: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_of_forces
 

1. What is momentum?

Momentum is a measure of an object's motion, calculated by multiplying its mass and velocity. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction.

2. How does momentum relate to Newton's laws of motion?

Momentum is directly related to Newton's first and second laws of motion. The first law states that an object in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force. This means that an object with momentum will continue to move in the same direction and at the same speed unless acted upon by a force. The second law states that the force acting on an object is equal to its mass times its acceleration. This means that the greater an object's momentum, the more force is needed to change its motion.

3. What are the different types of axes in physics?

In physics, there are three main types of axes: Cartesian, polar, and cylindrical. Cartesian axes are the traditional x, y, and z axes used for graphing in three dimensions. Polar axes involve a radius and an angle to describe a point in two dimensions. Cylindrical axes combine elements of both Cartesian and polar axes, using a radius and angle in the x-y plane and a height in the z-axis.

4. How do tires affect a vehicle's momentum?

Tires play a crucial role in a vehicle's momentum. The type and condition of tires can affect the amount of friction between the vehicle and the road, which ultimately affects the vehicle's acceleration, deceleration, and overall momentum. For example, tires with low tread or incorrect air pressure can decrease traction and increase the chances of slipping or sliding, thus affecting the vehicle's momentum.

5. How does momentum affect collisions?

In a collision, the total momentum of the system (the objects involved in the collision) remains constant, according to the law of conservation of momentum. This means that the total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision. This principle is used in understanding and analyzing the outcomes of collisions, such as determining the direction and speed of objects after colliding.

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