Normal and Friction Force Relationships went turning curbs

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between normal force, frictional force, and a vehicle's ability to maintain circular motion while turning a curb. Participants explore the theoretical and practical implications of these forces, particularly in the context of a car navigating a wet and oily road surface.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires how to determine if the frictional force is sufficient for a car to maintain circular motion based on the coefficient of friction and normal force.
  • Another participant asks about the acceleration of a vehicle turning a corner and the force required to achieve that acceleration, questioning the source of that force.
  • A participant provides a specific example with numerical values, calculating an acceleration of 0.173 m/s² and noting that the force comes from the engine, but the road conditions are poor due to oil.
  • In a repeated example, a participant calculates a frictional force of 6620 Newtons for a car with given parameters and questions whether this force is adequate to keep the car in circular motion.
  • A participant emphasizes the need to work through the algebra and equations collaboratively, suggesting that understanding the underlying calculations is essential before arriving at numerical answers.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus on the adequacy of the frictional force calculated or the necessary conditions for maintaining circular motion. Multiple viewpoints and calculations are presented, indicating ongoing debate and exploration of the topic.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific conditions such as the wet and oily pavement, which may influence the coefficient of friction and the resulting calculations. There are also indications of unresolved mathematical steps and assumptions regarding the forces involved.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying physics, particularly in the areas of mechanics and dynamics, as well as individuals interested in the practical applications of these concepts in automotive contexts.

daniel.j
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how can you tell if the frictional force is great enough to keep a car turning a curb in circular motion based on the coefficient of friction and the normal force?
 
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If a vehicle of mass m turns a corner radius r at speed v, what is its acceleration? What force is needed to provide that acceleration? Where will that force come from?
 
Acceleration: 0.173 m/s/s
Force is coming from engine but the street is wet with oil.
 
A car with a velocity of 15.3 m/s follows a circular road that has a radius of 40 m. The car has a mass 1350 kg. The pavement is wet and oily so the coefficient o friction between the tires and the road is only .500. The frictionall force that I calculated came out to be 6620 Newtons. Is this frictional force large enough to maintain the car in circular motion?
 
daniel.j said:
A car with a velocity of 15.3 m/s follows a circular road that has a radius of 40 m. The car has a mass 1350 kg. The pavement is wet and oily so the coefficient o friction between the tires and the road is only .500. The frictionall force that I calculated came out to be 6620 Newtons. Is this frictional force large enough to maintain the car in circular motion?
Please don't just tell me numbers. To figure out what you're doing I then I have reverse engineer the calculations. Let's just work with the algebra until we agree the equations.
A car mass M turns a corner radius R at constant speed V. What is its acceleration (magnitude and direction)? What force will provide that acceleration (and no, it's not the engine)? How large is the force? What limit on the size of the force might mean it is not large enough to turn the corner?
 

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