Question

A car is traveling to the right at constant speed along a flat, horizontal road. Its four tires are all the same size and are rolling smoothly.

Which point on the edge of each tire is moving the slowest?
A. the left
B. the top
C. the bottom
D. the right

Answer 1

C. the bottom

Step-by-step explanation:

The tires of the car is rolling without slipping. In this case, the bottom of the tire that contacts the surface must be at rest in order to prevent slipping. Of course this is instantaneously. The tire has a translational velocity, v, and also at the bottom a rotational velocity, -v, and the sum is zero for the bottom.