In a scenario where a car is turning a curve on a horizontal road, we can analyze the forces acting on the car during this uniform circular motion. To create a free body diagram, we need to identify the forces acting on the car.
First, let’s outline the main forces:
- Gravitational Force (Weight): This force acts downward towards the center of the Earth. It is equal to the mass of the car multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity (mg).
- Normal Force: This force acts upward and is exerted by the road on the car. In level motion, it balances the gravitational force when the road is flat.
- Centripetal Force: When the car turns, it requires a force that acts towards the center of the circular path to maintain its circular motion. This is known as the centripetal force and is provided by the friction between the tires and the road surface.
To illustrate this in a free body diagram:
- Draw the car as a box in the center of your diagram.
- Draw an arrow pointing downwards from the car to represent the gravitational force (mg).
- Draw an arrow pointing upwards from the car to represent the normal force (N), which should be equal in magnitude to the gravitational force in this scenario.
- Draw an arrow pointing towards the center of the circle from the car to indicate the centripetal force (Fc), which reflects the necessary force to keep the car in circular motion.
In conclusion, the free body diagram for a car turning on a horizontal road reveals three key forces: the gravitational force acting downwards, the normal force acting upwards, and the centripetal force directed towards the center of the curve. It’s important to understand that for the car to successfully make the turn without skidding out, the frictional force must be sufficient to provide the required centripetal force.