Two Cars on a Curving Road
A) A small car of mass m and a large car of mass 4m drive along a highway. They approach a curve of radius R. To not slip, both cars need to maintain a net force of F as they travel around the curve. How does the speed of the small car (vs) compare to the speed of the large (vL) car as they round the curve?
B) Now assume that two identical cars of mass m drive along a highway. One car approaches a curve of radius 2R at speed v. The second car approaches a curve of radius 6R at a speed of 3v. How does the the net force exerted on the first car, F1, compare to the net force exerted on the second car, F2?
Answer ( 1 )
A) A small car of mass m and a large car of mass 4m drive along a highway. They approach a curve of radius R. To not slip, both cars need to maintain a net force of F as they travel around the curve. How does the speed of the small car (vs) compare to the speed of the large (vL) car as they round the curve?
=> vs = vL
B) Now assume that two identical cars of mass m drive along a highway. One car approaches a curve of radius 2R at speed v. The second car approaches a curve of radius 6R at a speed of 3v. How does the the net force exerted on the first car, F1, compare to the net force exerted on the second car, F2?
=> F1 = 1/3F2