Creative Commons License Copyright © Michael Richmond. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

UCM at the racetrack

Let's look at an example from real life:

Each of the four turns at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is about one quarter mile in length , and is banked at an angle of 9 degrees and 12 minutes.

What is the "optimal speed" for driving through each turn? That is, at what speed could one slide through the turn on a super-icy day, when there was no friction at all along the track?

How does that speed compare to the speed of cars during a real race? Do the cars need much of a friction force?
























Creative Commons License Copyright © Michael Richmond. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.