What will be the maximum speed of a car on a road turn of radius 30m if the coefficient of friction between the tyres and the road is 0.4? (Take \( g = 9.8 { m/s}^2 \))
Show Hint
For circular motion:
- Maximum speed on a turn depends on friction: \( v_{\max} = \sqrt{\mu g R} \).
- Higher friction allows greater speed without skidding.
Step 1: Identify the forces acting on the car
- The car experiences centripetal force due to friction when moving in a circular path.
- The maximum frictional force available for turning without skidding is given by:
\[
F_{{friction}} = \mu mg
\] Step 2: Use Newton’s second law for circular motion
- The required centripetal force is given by:
\[
F_c = \frac{m v^2}{R}
\]
- Equating the friction force and centripetal force:
\[
\mu mg = \frac{m v^2}{R}
\] Step 3: Solve for \( v_{\max} \)
- Cancel \( m \) from both sides:
\[
\mu g = \frac{v^2}{R}
\]
- Rearranging:
\[
v_{\max} = \sqrt{\mu g R}
\] Step 4: Substitute given values
\[
v_{\max} = \sqrt{(0.4) (9.8) (30)}
\] Step 5: Compute the value
\[
v_{\max} = \sqrt{117.6} \approx 10.84 { m/s}
\]