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On the Road

A car going round a roundabout experiences a force towards the centre of the roundabout. This force is provided by friction on the tyres. Limiting friction is proportional to the normal contact force, which on a flat road equals 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).

Over the top of a hill the centripetal force F = mg - S = mv2/r where s is the normal contact force. S is zero when g = v2/r and the car loses contact with the road.On a banked road, the horizontal component of the normal reaction provides the centripetal force. v2 = gr tanθ so if the speed exceeds a certain value the radius has to increase and the car will move outwards.

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Specification: OCR Physics A (H556), A-level, 5.2.2 Centripetal force. Topic: Circular Motion.

Key terms in this lesson

gravitational potential
The work done per unit mass to move a small test mass from infinity to a point in a gravitational field.

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