Giancoli 7th Edition textbook cover
Giancoli's Physics: Principles with Applications, 7th Edition
5
Circular Motion; Gravitation
Change chapter

5-1 to 5-3: Uniform Circular Motion
5-4: Nonuniform Circular Motion
5-5 and 5-6: Law of Universal Gravitation
5-7: Satellites and Weightlessness
5-8: Kepler's Laws

Question by Giancoli, Douglas C., Physics: Principles with Applications, 7th Ed., ©2014, Reprinted by permission of Pearson Education Inc., New York.
Problem 9
Q

What is the maximum speed with which a 1200-kg car can round a turn of radius 90.0 m on a flat road if the coefficient of friction between tires and road is 0.65? Is this result independent of the mass of the car?

A
24 m/s. It does not depend on the car’s mass24\textrm{ m/s. It does not depend on the car's mass}
COMMENTS
By idan on Thu, 8/3/2017 - 10:20 PM

I see how the formula no longer has m in it. However, doesn't friction increase with greater mass which then changes the maximum velocity?

By Mr. Dychko on Thu, 8/31/2017 - 7:31 PM

It seems strange, but true, that mass doesn't affect the maximum velocity. Keep in mind that the friction we're speaking about here is normal to the velocity. In other words, the static friction is perpendicular to the direction of motion. We're speaking only about the friction that changes the direction of the car, so this friction has no effect on the speed.

On the other hand, you might be thinking about "rolling friction", or perhaps "air friction", or in other words the frictions that cause things with wheels to slow down and eventually stop. These types of friction are directed opposite to the direction of motion, and so they indeed do slow the car down. These types of friction are not considered in this question. Rolling friction, indeed, would increase with mass.

All the best,
Mr. Dychko

Find us on:

Facebook iconTrustpilot icon
Giancoli Answers, including solutions and videos, is copyright © 2009-2024 Shaun Dychko, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Giancoli Answers is not affiliated with the textbook publisher. Book covers, titles, and author names appear for reference purposes only and are the property of their respective owners. Giancoli Answers is your best source for the 7th and 6th edition Giancoli physics solutions.