Consider a car negotiating an unbanked circular curve of radius R on a horizontal road. If the coefficient of static friction between the tires and the road surface is mu, what is the maximum safe speed of the car without skidding?

💡 Solution & Explanation

The maximum safe speed for a vehicle navigating an unbanked circular curve depends on the centripetal force being provided entirely by static friction between the tires and the road. Equating the maximum static frictional force to the required centripetal mass times velocity squared over radius yields the speed formula involving the square root of mu times acceleration due to gravity times radius. Incorrect choices mistakenly invert terms or omit the square root operation. Road banking increases this safe speed limit by incorporating a component of the normal force.