27.0k views
3 votes
When you turn do your vehicles rear wheels follow the same path as the front wheels

1 Answer

2 votes

Final answer:

When you turn, the rear wheels do not follow the same path as the front wheels due to their different roles in steering and propulsion.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is option Physics.

In a vehicle, when you turn, the rear wheels do not follow the same path as the front wheels. This can be observed when a car makes a turn, especially at higher speeds. The front wheels turn in the direction the driver wants to go, while the rear wheels follow a slightly wider path.

This phenomenon is due to the different roles the front and rear wheels play in steering and propulsion. The front wheels, controlled by the steering mechanism, are responsible for changing the direction of the vehicle. Meanwhile, the rear wheels, driven by the engine, provide power to move the car forward.

As a result, during a turn, the front wheels take a tighter path and have a greater turning radius compared to the rear wheels, which follow a wider path. This difference in paths between the front and rear wheels allows the car to navigate turns effectively.

The correct answer is option Physics. When you turn a vehicle, the rear wheels do not follow the same path as the front wheels due to a principle called tracking or offtracking.

The front wheels set the initial path, and because the vehicle’s rear wheels pivot around a separate axis (the rear axle), they trace a smaller, inside curve. This is especially apparent when making sharp turns or maneuvering in tight spaces.

Furthermore, during a turn, the action of the front wheels and the reaction of the rear wheels are governed by the principles of centrifugal force and centripetal force. This results in a complex dynamic where the back of the vehicle is pushed outwards during a turn—the sharper the curve and the greater the speed, the more pronounced the effect.

While simplified models may depict vehicles as having both sets of wheels following identical paths, the physics of real-world driving show that each set of wheels navigates its own trajectory during turns.

User BDarley
by
8.5k points