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AQA A-level PhysicsCircular MotionLesson 7 of 9

A car going round a roundabout experiences a force towards the centre of the roundabout. This force is provided by friction in the tyres.

Limiting friction is proportional to the car's weight: F = μmg where mg is the weight. So μmg must be greater than or equal to mv2/r. So v cannot be greater than √(μgr).

Diagram

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Key terms in this lesson

Centripetal force
The resultant force, directed towards the centre of a circle, needed to keep an object moving in that circular path.

More in Circular Motion

All 9 lessons in Circular Motion · All AQA A-level Physics topics