Question

When an automobile rounds a curve at high speed, the loading (weight distribution) on the wheels is markedly changed. For suffi- ciently high speeds the loading on the inside wheels goes to zero, at which point the car starts to roll over. This tendency can be avoided by mounting a large spinning flywheel on the car. (a) In what direction should the flywheel be mounted, and what should be the sense of rotation, to help equalize the loading

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

The tendency of the automobile running on a circular path at high speed to turn towards left or right around one of its wheels , is due to torque by centripetal force acting at its centre of mass about that wheel .

Suppose the automobile tends to turn in clockwise direction about its wheel on the outer edge . A rotational angular momentum is created . To counter this effect , we can take the help of a rotating wheel or flywheel . We shall have to keep its rotation in anticlockwise direction so that it can create rotational angular momentum in direction opposite to that created by centrifugal force on fast moving automobile. Each of them will nullify the effect of the other . In this way , rotating flywheel will save the automobile from turning upside down .