The plan view of a model racing car track is shown - Edexcel - A-Level Physics - Question 5 - 2023 - Paper 1
Question 5
The plan view of a model racing car track is shown. Friction acts between a model racing car and the track. A car is moving round the track with a constant speed and... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The plan view of a model racing car track is shown - Edexcel - A-Level Physics - Question 5 - 2023 - Paper 1
Step 1
Which of the following is the reason why the car slides off the track?
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Answer
The correct answer is D. The frictional force is not large enough. In a circular motion, the centripetal force is required to keep an object moving in a circular path. When a car travels around the track, it relies on friction to provide this centripetal force. If the frictional force is insufficient to counteract the tendency of the car to move in a straight line (due to inertia), the car will slide off the track at point P.