Final answer:
Off-tracking of the rear wheels is influenced by torque, angular and linear velocities, moment of inertia, and the forces exerted by the wheels. Physical principles governing these interactions include Newton's laws and the interplay between forces and motion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Off-tracking of the rear wheels is affected by several physical phenomena, primarily involving the interplay of linear and angular velocities as well as the forces acting on the wheels and vehicle. When considering vehicle motion, particularly the relation between car and wheel dynamics, we have to account for the forces involved and the physical principles, such as Newton's laws of motion, that govern these interactions.
For instance, the original position of an object is stable until a force acts upon it, like when a traffic cone is knocked over; its center of gravity shifts and a torque is created that accelerates it toward the ground. Similar principles apply to vehicles in motion. The motion of a car and the rotation of its wheels are intimately connected.
Regarding the moment of inertia and its influence on vehicle dynamics, with the racing bicycle example, a reduced moment of inertia in wheel design can affect how quickly and easily wheels can accelerate or decelerate. This directly impacts off-tracking since the rear wheels need to change their velocity when a vehicle turns. When a midsize car accelerates, the wheels exert a backward force on the road, indicating how forces exerted by the wheels affect the car's motion and how these forces interact with friction and air resistance.
All these factors —torque, angular velocity, linear velocity, and moment of inertia— play roles in how the rear wheels of a vehicle may off-track, especially during maneuvers such as turning or when the vehicle is subject to different forces such as friction, air resistance, and the centripetal forces encountered in curves.