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Chapter 9: Problem 19

A car is traveling around an unbanked curve at a maximum speed. Which force(s) is(are) responsible for keeping it on the road?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The friction force between the tires and the road surface is responsible for keeping the car on the road while traveling around an unbanked curve at maximum speed.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the forces acting on the car

When a car is traveling around a curve, there are generally two forces acting on it - the gravitational force (i.e. the weight of the car) pulling it downwards and the contact force exerted by the road on the car (essentially, the friction between the tires and the road surface) preventing it from slipping.
02

Identify the relevant force responsible for keeping the car on the road

In this particular case, since the car is traveling around an unbanked curve, we can assume it is moving horizontally. This means that the gravitational force is not relevant in this situation, because it acts perpendicular to the direction of motion. On the other hand, the force that is responsible for keeping the car on the road as it moves around the curve is the friction force. This force acts horizontally and inwards, towards the center of the curve, preventing the car from slipping off the road.
03

Understand the role of the car's speed

As the car is traveling at its maximum speed, this implies that it is moving at the highest speed it can maintain without losing its grip on the road. This is important because, at this speed, the friction force acting on the car has reached its maximum possible value. If the car's speed were to increase further, the friction force would no longer be enough to offset the car's tendency to slide off the road, causing it to lose control.
04

Conclusion

In conclusion, the force that is responsible for keeping a car on the road while it's traveling around an unbanked curve at maximum speed is the friction force between the tires and the road surface. This force acts horizontally and inwards, towards the center of the curve, preventing the car from slipping off the road.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A penny is sitting on the edge of an old phonograph disk that is spinning at 33 rpm and has a diameter of 12 inches. What is the minimum coefficient of static friction between the penny and the surface of the disk to ensure that the penny doesn't fly off?

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