Car on a Vertical Corner!

What happens if, instead of no bank angle you enter a corner banked at 90o! This is definitely in the "don't try this at home" category but is a situation sometimes seen at carnivals and exhibitions!

The following figure is a screen capture of the applet with the angle slider set at 90o. Please adjust the applet now. Set the angle at 90o, the coefficient of friction at 0.50 and leave the radius of turn at 80 m. Note the relationship between the vectors and particularly between the Weight vector and the Frictional Force vector.

 

For the case shown in this figure will the car "stick to the road"?

yes - it will stick.

not a chance! It will slide down.

Now run the applet and adjust the velocity until the car sticks to the road.

  1. What did you notice about the size of the Normal Force vector?
  2. Why does it behave like this?