Understanding the Relationship Between Static and Kinetic Friction on Wet Roads

[courtney1121]

Why is your car more likely to skid on a wet hill than on a wet but level road?

Just a somewhat logical guess, but on a level road, the static friction force is much stronger than compared to a wet hill...and you also have accelerationa acting on you opposed to the level road...?

 

[berkeman]

What is the normal force on a hill versus a level road? How is the normal force related to the friction force? Also, on a hill, is there a component of force due to gravity that will assist the skid?

 

[courtney1121]

well the normal force is going to be less than the gravitational force since acceleration will be inward towards the center of the hill. The normal force will be perpendicular to the friction force. And there should be kinetic friction force that will assit the skid since it's slipping.

Does that make sense?

 

[berkeman]

Sounds right to me. Good job.