What Forces Act on a Car at Constant Speed and While Decelerating?

  • Thread starter Thread starter 05holtel
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Forces
AI Thread Summary
For a car traveling at a constant speed on level ground, the forces acting on it include the normal force, gravitational force, applied force, and force of friction, with the normal force equal to the gravitational force and the applied force equal to the force of friction. When the car is decelerating, the same forces are present, but the applied force is less than the force of friction. The normal and gravitational forces still act on the car, canceling each other out vertically, but they must be included in the force analysis. Understanding these forces is crucial for analyzing the car's motion in both scenarios. The discussion emphasizes the importance of recognizing all forces, even when they balance out.
05holtel
Messages
52
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



1) Identify all of the forces acting on you as the car travels at a perfectly steady speed on level ground

2) Repeat part 1 with the car slowing down.


Homework Equations



N/a

The Attempt at a Solution



1)The forces acting on the car at constant velocity include:
A normal force, gravitational force, the applied force of the car, Force of friction

Please note that in order for the car to travel at constant speed, Normal Force = Gravitational Force, and the applied force of the car = Force of friction

2) The forces acting on the decelerating car include
A normal force, gravitational force, Force of friction

Is this correct?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
In the second situation, there is still a force that is the car is applying ; It is simply less than the frictional force.
 
Wouldnt the gravitational force and normal force just cancel each other out because the car is not moving up or down into the road...?
 
They would cancel each other out, but you still have to list them as forces acting on the car.
 
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'
Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
Back
Top