Hello dear students we know that the centripetal force and centrifugal force plays very important in explanation of circular motion.
The force which acts on a particle along the radius towards the Centre of the circle and which keeps the particle moving along the circular path is called centripetal force.
According to Newton’s 2nd of motion.
Centripetal force= mass ×centripetal acceleration
Negative sign indicates that acceleration and radius vector are opposite directions.
This force is very important when vehicles are moving along the curved circular track. Centripetal force maintains the motion of object along the circular path. In this article we are going to discuss the motion of vehicle moving along curved circular track.
Let’s learn motion of a car on a level road ……!
When a vehicle moves along curved circular track, it performs circular motion. For two wheelers the velocity and motion is balanced by shifting the weight of vehicle by inclination of vehicle with the surface of road. Due to inclination the weight is resolved in to two components; horizontal component provides the necessary centripetal force and vertical component balances the weight of vehicle.
Consider a vehicle of mass ‘m’ moves along a horizontal curved road of radius “r”. It performs circular motion as shown in fig. below.
The forces acting on the car are 1) frictional force between the types of vehicle and surface of road, 2) centripetal force required for circular motion.
Force of friction = μN
Force of friction = μmg (since N= mg) …………. (1)
Centripetal force = m V^2/r …………… (2)
For the circular motion of car necessary centripetal force is provided by the force of friction between the tyres force of friction between the tyres of vehicle and surface of road so as to balance the motion,
Some important points to remember……!
- The Maximum speed of a vehicle depends upon the coefficient of friction, radius of curvature and acceleration due to gravity.
- The force of friction is not reliable. Its magnitude decreases when the road becomes wet due to rains or when oil falls on the road. Thus force of friction will not be able to produce necessary centripetal force and vehicle will skid off.
- To avoid this roads should be banked.