Home Physics Motion in a Plane General The turning of a car must be produced by an …
Physics Motion in a Plane General Subjective Type
Published on: September 12, 2026

The turning of a car must be produced by an external force acting at an angle to the line of motion of the car. This external force can only be the force of friction between tyres and ground. Then why, when the front wheels of the car are turned, does to direction of the force of friction change in such a way that the whole car is caused to turn?

Share this question

For Instagram sharing, use “Apps” on mobile or copy the link.

Text Solution

Verified by Experts
The correct answer is:
A
Step 1: Understand the situation when a car is turning. When the front wheels of a car are turned, the direction of the car's velocity vector also changes, meaning the car is no longer moving straight but is now in a curve.
Step 2: Identify the forces acting on the car. The primary force that allows the car to turn is the frictional force between the tires and the road. This frictional force acts at an angle to the line of motion of the car.
Step 3: Analyze the effect of turning the front wheels. When the wheels are turned, the tires encounter the road at an angle, which changes the direction of the frictional force acting on those tires. This results in a lateral force that pulls the car in the direction of the turn.
Step 4: Apply Newton's law of motion. According to Newton's second law, the net force acting on the car will produce acceleration in the direction of that force. Since the frictional force has changed direction to match the new line of motion (the curve), it causes the car to accelerate towards the center of the turn.
Conclusion: The frictional force provides the necessary centripetal force to keep the car moving in a curve as the turned front wheels generate a force that directs the car in the new direction. Thus, the change in the angle of the force of friction effectively causes the car to turn.
Therefore, the answer is based on the importance and role of friction in car dynamics.

Prepare Smarter with CGP Edu

Get practice questions, solutions, and test series in one place.

Write a Review

Share your experience with this question and solution.

Commentary

Send your comment, doubt, correction, or feedback to admin.

Student Reviews

What students say about this solution

No reviews yet. Be the first to write a review.

Similar Questions

Explore conceptually related problems

CG
CGP Question Assistant Question Bank + AI Help
Hi! Type your question or upload one screenshot. First I will search related questions from CGP Edu Question Bank. If none match, type YES and I will solve it with AI.
Upload only one screenshot at a time. Flow: Question Bank first → If not matched, type YES for AI solution.