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When parking uphill with a curb, your wheels should be turned what why?

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Final answer:

When parking uphill with a curb, the wheels should be turned away from the curb to ensure the car rolls against the curb and not into traffic if it starts to move. This relates to principles of centripetal force similar to a bicyclist needing to lean correctly when turning to maintain stability.

Step-by-step explanation:

When parking uphill with a curb, the correct position to turn your wheels is away from the curb. This technique ensures that if your vehicle starts to roll, it will move away from traffic and come to rest against the curb, preventing it from potentially rolling into the roadway. It is crucial for a driver to understand the relationship between the car's wheels and gravity to avoid accidents and maintain traffic safety.

The physics behind this practice can be related to principles of centripetal force and the balance of forces as discussed in the context of a bicyclist leaning at the correct angle when making a turn to maintain stability, as the bicycle's center of gravity must align with the exerted force by the ground. Similarly, ensuring your car's wheels are properly turned when parked on a slope considers the direction in which gravity will act on your car.

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