Re: [Phys-l] car skidding and spinning

["LaMontagne, Bob" <RLAMONT@providence.edu>]

If you turn into the skid you decrease the friction on the front end of the car because the wheel can roll instead of skid. This decreases the torque from the front and the car tends to straighten out. This is an old "dirt track" trick. It also works great on snow covered roads.

Bob at PC

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From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] on behalf of Bob Sciamanda [treborsci@verizon.net]
Sent: Sunday, December 04, 2011 4:03 PM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] car skidding and spinning

John Denker offerred:

> -- If the front wheels let go, the car spins to the outside
> of the turn ("understeer").
> -- If the real wheels let go, the care spins to the inside
> of the turn ("oversteer").

> The rear-wheel skid is much more dangerous than the front-wheel
> skid, so you want to do everything in your power to avoid it.

My aging brain is missing something.
Why is turning INTO the turn always more dangerous?

Bob Sciamanda
Physics, Edinboro Univ of PA (Em)
treborsci@verizon.net
http://mysite.verizon.net/res12merh/
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