Physics > Circular Motion > 5.0 Circular turning of roads

  Circular Motion
    1.0 Introduction
    2.0 Dynamics of circular motion
    3.0 Motion in a vertical circle
    4.0 Rigid body rotating in a vertical circle
    5.0 Circular turning of roads
    6.0 Conical Pendulum
    7.0 Death well
    8.0 Rotor
    9.0 Bending of a cyclist or motorcyclist while taking turn
    10.0 Centrifugal force

5.1 By friction
Let a jeep of mass $m$ is running at speed $v$ on a horizontal circular arc of radius $R$, the frictional force $f$ acting between the tires and ground will provide necessary centripetal force to the jeep.


Coefficient of friction between the jeep tires and road is $\mu $.

Limiting frictional force $\left( {{f_L}} \right)$ is,
$${f_L} = \mu N$$
From the FBD we get, $$\begin{equation} \begin{aligned} N = mg \\ f = \frac{{m{v^2}}}{R} \\\end{aligned} \end{equation} $$
So, the friction $f$ provides the necessary centripetal force for turning.

If the velocity $v$ of the jeep is more, centripetal force increases which in turn increases the frictional force.

$v=v_max$ is the maximum speed at which the jeep can take the safe turn.

So, at this speed maximum frictional force acts between the tires and the ground i.e. limiting frictional force.
$$\begin{equation} \begin{aligned} {f_L} = \frac{{mv_{\max }^2}}{R} \\ \mu mg = \frac{{mv_{\max }^2}}{R} \\ {v_{\max }} = \sqrt {\mu gR} \\\end{aligned} \end{equation} $$
For safe turning of jeep on a horizontal circular turn, the speed should be $v \leqslant \sqrt {\mu gR} $.

Note: If $v > \sqrt {\mu gR} $, the car will slide outwards as $v \propto R$.
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