Question

Many curves have banked turns, which allow the cars to travel faster around the curves than if the road were flat. Acutally, cars could also make turns on these banked curves if there were no friction at all. Explain this statement using the free-body diagram shown in the figure.

Answer 1

Answer:

the normal force that is perpendicular to the surface has a component towards the center of the curve.

Explanation:

When curves with superelevation or inclination, the normal force that is perpendicular to the surface has a component towards the center of the curve. This component is what maintains the vehicle and gives it centripetal acceleration.

Consequently, the vehicle does not need the friction force since it does not have a tendency to slide and this is zero.