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VICPhysicsQuick questions

Unit 3: How do fields explain motion and electricity?

Quick questions on Banked tracks and the banking angle: VCE Physics Unit 3

7short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.

What is free-body diagram on a frictionless banked track?
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Consider a car of mass mm on a banked curve of radius rr at angle θ\theta to the horizontal, moving at speed vv. Two forces act:
What is at the design speed?
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Friction is zero. The road feels smooth; passengers feel pushed into their seats but not sideways.
What is below the design speed?
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The horizontal component of the normal force is more than needed for the (smaller) required centripetal force. The car tends to slide down the bank (inward); friction must act up the bank to prevent it.
What is above the design speed?
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The horizontal component of the normal force is not enough for the (larger) required centripetal force. The car tends to slide up the bank (outward); friction must act down the bank to keep the car on the curve.
What is q1?
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State the formula for the design speed of a banked track at which no friction is required. [2 marks]
What is q2?
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A car drives around a banked curve of radius 5050 m banked at 15∘15^\circ. Calculate the design speed in m s−1^{-1} and in km h−1^{-1}. [3 marks]
What is q3?
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Refer to Calder Park Thunderdome. (a) Calculate the design speed for r=244r = 244 m and θ=24∘\theta = 24^\circ. (b) Determine the direction of friction if a car travels at 4040 m s−1^{-1}.

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