A roadway for stunt drivers is designed for racecars moving at a speed of 40 m/s. A curved section of the roadway is a circular arc of 230 m radius. The roadway is banked so that a vehicle can go around the curve with the friction force from the road equal to zero. At what angle is the roadway banked?
A) 35°
B) 37°
C) 33°
D) 31°
E) 29°

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct answer is A because the roadway is banked at an angle that is equal to the arctangent of the ratio of the centripetal force to the gravitational force. In this case, the centripetal force is provided by the friction force from the road, which is equal to zero. Therefore, the roadway is banked at an angle that is equal to the arctangent of the ratio of the gravitational force to the centripetal force, which is equal to 35°.

A Roadway for Stunt Drivers Is Designed for Racecars Moving