A car enters a level, unbanked semi-circular hairpin turn of 300 m radius at a speed of 40 m/s. The coefficient of friction between the tires and the road is μ = 0.25. If the car maintains a constant speed of 40 m/s, it will
A) attempt to dig into the road surface.
B) tend to veer toward the center of the semicircle.
C) arrive safely at the end of the semicircle.
D) tend to veer toward the outside of the circle.
E) veer toward the center for the first quarter-circle, then veer toward the outside for the second quarter-circle.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The force that keeps the car on its circular path is the frictional force, which acts toward the center of the circle. If the car's speed or the circle's radius requires a centripetal force greater than what friction can provide, the car will veer toward the outside of the circle, not being able to maintain its circular path.

A Car Enters a Level, Unbanked Semi-Circular Hairpin Turn of 300