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Q.Under what condition will a car skid on a levelled circular road ?

Tamil Nadu DgeTamil Nadu HSC First Year (DGE) Board 2023Subjective· 2mImportance★★★★★
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On a flat circular road, friction alone provides the centripetal force; skidding occurs once the speed exceeds v(max) = sqrt(mu r g).

On a horizontal (unbanked/levelled) circular road of radius r, a car moving with speed v needs a centripetal force

F(c) = m v^2 / r

directed towards the centre to stay on the circular path.

This force can only be supplied by friction between the tyres and the road surface. The maximum friction force available (limiting/static friction) is

f(max) = mu m g

where mu is the coefficient of friction between the tyres and the road, and mg is the normal reaction (since the road is level).

For safe circular motion, the required centripetal force must not exceed this maximum friction:

m v^2 / r <= mu m g

v^2 <= mu r g …

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