Final answer:
Cars tend to drift to the outside of the curve due to inertia and the perceived centrifugal force. Drivers counteract this by steering and relying on friction to stay on course. Race car drivers cut the corner to maintain higher speeds through the curve. Option c is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you approach a curve while driving, your car will naturally tend to maintain a straight line due to inertia, which is described by Newton's First Law of Motion. However, if unacted upon by another force, such as friction or steering input, the car will drift to the outside of the curve.
This tendency is due to the centrifugal force, which is not an actual force affecting the vehicle, but rather a perceived effect because of the inertia while the car follows a curved path. To counteract this, race car drivers often cut the corner taking the inside path, which allows them to maintain a higher speed through the turn while minimizing the effect of the outward drift.
The feeling of being pushed to the outside of the car when navigating through a curve, commonly experienced by both drivers and passengers, is the result of this same effect. The actual force you feel during this motion, especially in a banked curve at the right speed, is the centripetal force which acts towards the center of the curve and is provided by the car seat through friction and support, thus preventing you from sliding outwards.
Therefore, when approaching a curve, your car will tend to drift to the outside of the curve unless appropriately steered and supported by friction. The centrifugal force, although fictitious, plays a crucial role in this phenomenon, giving the sensation of being pushed outwards as the vehicle strives to continue in a straight line. Understanding these forces allows drivers to approach curves effectively, using techniques like cutting corners to maintain speed while minimizing outward drift.