MEPX
Chapter 8 of 10All chapters

Chapter 8 of 10

Circular motion

Turning needs a force.

Centripetal force

An object moving in a circle is constantly accelerating towards the centre, so something must supply that force: friction, tension, gravity or a normal force.

  • Required force grows with the square of speed and falls with radius.
  • Doubling cornering speed needs four times the grip.

The fictitious one

There is no outward force on the object. The feeling of being thrown outwards is your body continuing straight while the vehicle turns beneath you.