should we not consider the force required to cause the static friction for car going on a curve with the help of friction?

Question

in university physics book i found that frictional force(static) was causing an acceleration of magnitude enough to cause it to go in curve path and we took out the max velocity allowed but shouldnt we put in force to obtain the static force (equal and opposite in magnitude and direction)? and if so when totaled wouldnt the combined aceleration be 0?

Answer 1

Hi snigdh K.,

Well, you have a lot of implied calculations packed in there. The total acceleration isn't zero; the car follows the curve, so it is accelerating (the direction of velocity is changing). You calculate that for the "circular" equivalent path, don't you. If there weren't that static friction (well, that's hedging the squirm of the tire a bit!), the car would continue straight and plunge off the road. And by the way, the best motorcycle racers can drift both tires on a curve, that's in between static and dynamic friction, perhaps. -- Cheers, --Mr. d.