Question

Driving your armored HMMWV on a winding country road, you notice that you are approaching a sharp curve. What should you do to minimize the effect of centrifugal force on your vehicle?

1) Slow down before entering the curve
2) Accelerate through the curve
3) Maintain a constant speed through the curve
4) Brake hard during the curve

Answer 1

To minimize the centrifugal force effect on your vehicle in a sharp curve, it's best to slow down before the curve as this action reduces the required centripetal acceleration and force for safe navigation.

Step-by-step explanation:

To minimize the effect of centrifugal force on your vehicle when approaching a sharp curve, you should slow down before entering the curve. This strategy reduces the centripetal acceleration needed to navigate the curve, which is a result of the centripetal force that must be exerted through friction between your tires and the road. As the speed squared is proportional to the centripetal acceleration, even a small decrease in speed can significantly lower the centrifugal effect, enhancing both safety and stability of your vehicle.