A car travels around a highway curve that is ideally banked for a speed of
PHYSICS · Single correct · A Level · Physics · Further mechanics and thermal physics · Further mechanics and thermal physics
Problem
A car travels around a highway curve that is ideally banked for a speed of 20m⋅s−1. The surface of the road is nearly frictionless. If the car enters the curve at 25m⋅s−1, which outcome is most likely?
(a) The car maintains its lane because the normal force automatically increases to supply the extra centripetal force.
(b) The car follows the curve normally because the centripetal force is independent of speed on a frictionless surface.
(c) The car tends to slide up the bank toward the outer edge of the curve.
(d) The car tends to slide down the bank toward the inner edge of the curve.