Question

A car of mass of 1200 kg is driven around a corner of a radius of 45m at 15 ms-1
.
(a) Calculate the acceleration of the car.
(b) Calculate the centripetal force acting on the car.
(c) Explain how the centripetal force is being produced.

Answer 1

Explanation:

w = v/r

= 15/ 45 = 1/3 rads-¹

a = w²r

= 1/9 • 45 = 5 ms-²

F = mv²/r

= 1200• 15• 15/45

= 6000N

The car, when rounding the curve, is pulled towards the center by the friction between it's wheels and the road.