What Is the Maximum Speed a Car Can Travel Without Skidding on a Circular Track?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the maximum speed a car can travel on a circular track without skidding, given specific parameters such as mass, radius, and coefficient of static friction. The focus includes applying Newton's laws of motion and understanding the forces acting on the car.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a scenario involving a 1000-kg car on a 50-m radius track with a coefficient of static friction of 0.80, seeking to determine the maximum speed without skidding.
  • Several participants suggest starting with the vertical component of Newton's second law to find the normal force and then use that to calculate the static friction force.
  • There is confusion among participants regarding the application of equations and the meaning of variables, particularly in relation to gravitational force and normal force.
  • One participant calculates the normal force as 9810 N using a gravitational constant of 9.81 m/s², while another corrects this to use 10 N/kg as stated in the problem, leading to a static friction force of 8000 N.
  • Participants express varying levels of understanding and confusion about the physics concepts involved, particularly in setting up the equations correctly.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on the correct approach to solving the problem, as participants express differing levels of understanding and confusion about the equations and concepts involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully resolved the steps needed to calculate the maximum speed, and there are inconsistencies in the gravitational constant used in calculations. The discussion reflects a range of understanding and application of physics principles.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students struggling with introductory physics concepts, particularly those related to forces, motion, and circular dynamics.

albarnett17
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Physics lab normal force please help!

A 1000-kg car moves at a maximum speed so that it does not skid off the 50-m radius level track. If the coefficient of static friction between the road and wheels is 0.80. What is the maximum speed? Assume that the gravitational constant is 10.0 N/kg =10.0 m/s. Use the simulations in 4.5 Car Circles a Track to check your answers.


Write an equation for the vertical y-component form of Newton's second law. Determine the magnitude of the normal force. Then use a force law equation to determine the magnitude of the static friction force.


Write an equation for the radial component form of Newton's second law. Use this to determine the maximum speed that the car can travel so that it does not skid (so that friction can provide the needed force to keep the car moving in a circle). Once you have calculated the maximum speed adjust the speed slider in the 4th simulation to this speed and see if the car stays on the track.
 
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welcome to pf!

hi albarnett17! welcome to pf! :wink:

with these questions, do everything in the order the question tells you to

start with …
albarnett17 said:
Write an equation for the vertical y-component form of Newton's second law. Determine the magnitude of the normal force.

… what do you get? :smile:​
 


Idk any equations or where to put what in the equations i have no idea how to do this.
 
albarnett17 said:
Write an equation for the vertical y-component form of Newton's second law.

in other words:

draw a free body diagram

mark all the external forces on it

then do F = ma in the vertical direction​

what do you get? :smile:
 


Ok i did i have a diagram but i still don't get sorry but i really do not kno like almost anything in physics
 

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ok, now we have to do F = ma vertically (in the y direction), from your diagram

a (acceleration) vertically is obvously zero, and your only vertical forces are the normal force N, and the weight (which you're calling V, but we usually call it W) …

ok so what is the equation (with the numbers in)? :smile:​
 


F=10000*0
f=0
 
what's F?
 


f= 0
 
  • #10
yes, but what is F made of?
 
  • #11


Force idk m*g
 
  • #12
albarnett17 said:
Force idk m*g

m*g = 0 ? :confused:
 
  • #13


im so confused man here's what i got for
question 1.F(n) = mg
F(n) =(1000)(9.81)
F(n) =9810 N
SF=UF
SF=(0.80)(9810)
Sf=7848
 
  • #14
hi albarnett17! :smile:
albarnett17 said:
im so confused man here's what i got for
question 1.F(n) = mg
F(n) =(1000)(9.81)
F(n) =9810 N
SF=UF
SF=(0.80)(9810)
Sf=7848

ok so far :smile:

(except thequestion says g=10 N/kg, so the friction force is 8000 N)

now use that in F = ma for the x direction :wink:​
 

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