Question

Holly puts a box into the trunk of her car. Later, she drives around an unbanked curve that has a radius of 48 m. The speed of the car on the curve is 16 m/s, but the box remains stationary relative to the floor of the trunk. Determine the minimum coefficient of static friction for the box on the floor of the trunk?

Answer 1

Answer:

The minimum coefficient of static friction for the box on the floor of the trunk is 0.54.

Explanation:

Given that,

Radius of the unbanked curve, r = 48 m

The speed of the car on the curve, v = 16 m/s

We need to find the minimum coefficient of static friction for the box on the floor of the trunk. It can be calculated by balancing the centripetal force and the force of gravity as :

$\mu mg=\dfrac{mv^2}{r}$

$\mu=\dfrac{v^2}{rg}$

$\mu=\dfrac{(16)^2}{48\times 9.8}$

$\mu=0.54$

So, the minimum coefficient of static friction for the box on the floor of the trunk is 0.54. Hence, this is the required solution.