Final answer:
Off track refers to the difference in the paths taken by the front and rear wheels of a vehicle when negotiating a curve, and it is affected by wheelbase length and vehicle structure, being greater in combination vehicles than in smaller cars. The banked curve and center of mass are also relevant concepts related to vehicle stability during cornering.
Step-by-step explanation:
Off track is defined as the difference between the path of the front wheels and the path of the rear wheels when a vehicle goes around a curve. This is mostly observed in longer vehicles such as combination vehicles, trucks, and buses, where the rear wheels follow a tighter path than the front wheels. This discrepancy in paths tends to increase as the wheelbase of the vehicle increases. Hence, off track tends to be greater in combination vehicles than in cars due to their longer wheelbases and the pivot points created by their articulated structures.
In the context of banked curves on race tracks, off track is minimized as these curves are sloped in a way that helps vehicles maintain traction and negotiate the curve more smoothly. Another important concept is the center of mass of a vehicle, which is crucial when considering stability and the effects of forces like the fictitious centrifugal force on a vehicle going around a curve, especially at high speeds. This force is an apparent force that acts outward on a mass moving in a circular path and contributes to the potential off track condition.