Recent content by Rupert Young

I'm a bit confused by the physics of the mountain car problem. The problem concerns driving an underpowered car up a mountain. I had expected that the car would be able drive up to a point where the forward force due to acceleration is equal to the opposing force due to gravity and that the...

Can we simplify things by considering free floating bodies orbiting a central point? E.g. the planets, but with equal sized objects. Would those nearer the centre (on a path of higher curvature) move at a slower speed?

Interesting, this is what I am trying to get to. So what is the source of the lateral force, is it friction due an increase in pressure of the tyres on the ground? Does centrifugal force come into this? How can we go about quantifying the loss of speed?

The forces that would have the main effects, particular interest in centripetal force. As in the original question if the angle of the throttle pedal is kept constant, but basically a constant force exerted by the engine. The direction is forward, relative to the car.

Well, I did read it but didn't see how to get to the next step. I know some basic stuff about bodies moving in a straight line (f=ma), but not about any effects due to curves. So, I might need an explanation as if I were a small child (which I might be).

Ok, I think there is some agreement that it is necessary to turn the wheel to compensate for a lateral force, though some dispute about whether the car itself is redirected or just the wheels themselves are. Whichever is the case, it could be described that we turn the steering wheel until we...

I am not quite sure what you are disagreeing with as your first statement seems to agree and the second doesn't. Could you clarify? My query regards your statement that a leftward force has no effect on an object (ideally or otherwise), which doesn't seem right, or I am misunderstanding what you...

Ah yes, as I thought, :smile:

Let's come back to speed later, but first can we clarify this point. This doesn't seem right to me. If there is a lateral force on an object surely that object will move laterally. If it is wind then the car will be moved laterally (maybe only slightly), so it would be necessary to turn the...

Just to clarify, are you answering yes to the question as I'd thought the answer would be no. Are you saying that if the forward speed of a car is 40 mph, which is then exposed to a leftward force (wind, say) of 30 mph, the car would then speed up (over time) to go at a forward speed of 50 mph...

Turning the wheel? Is that exerting a sideways force? Does that effect the speed?

Well, I'm not a physicist, and I'm hoping this forum is open to those physicsally challenged! So, if you add a leftward force (wind, say) of 30 mph to a car that was going 40 mph it would then be going 50 mph? (computed by Pythagoras I guess) I feel you want me to say friction. But is that...

Ok, I thought velocity and speed were the same thing. So, if a car is being driven with a constant force and it goes around a curve, does that mean the speed also remains constant? Because it is heavy? Because the road is slippery?

What is the source of this sideways force? People, it might be obvious to you, but it is not to me, which is why I am asking the question, so a more in depth answer would be much appreciated.

Don't you mean that the velocity changes because you are going around a curve? Could you clarify why it is changing, given that the forward force is the same? Why does going around a curve exert a counter force?