121k views
4 votes
What are the two techniques to steer through a turn

User John Smart
by
9.2k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

Steering through a turn can involve cutting the corner for a tighter and speedier curve or using a lean to align forces with the center of gravity, both of which maintain necessary centripetal force.

Step-by-step explanation:

The techniques of steering through a turn involve the concepts of centripetal force and the proper use of kinetics involved during the turn. Race car drivers often utilize a technique known as cutting the corner, where they take the inside path around a curve because it allows them to maintain a higher speed through the turn. The path taken influences the radius of the curve which directly affects the speed that can be maintained while still executing the turn safely without losing control.

Another technique involves the physics of a bicyclist negotiating a turn on level ground. An adept cyclist instinctively knows to lean into the curve at the correct angle so that the force exerted by the ground on the tires aligns through their center of gravity. This lean is crucial because it ensures that the horizontal component of the force on the wheel supplies the necessary centripetal force to maintain the turn, while the vertical component cancels the weight of the system—a process that dynamically stabilizes the cyclist during the turn.

User Roman Grinev
by
8.4k points