Re: "Negotiating" a curve. NOT SIMPLE

[Bob Sciamanda <trebor@VELOCITY.NET>]

The "keel" effect of the turned steering wheel might also be called a
"polarization" effect.  By extinguishing a component of incident plane
polarized light, the polarizer can introduce into the exit beam
polarization components which are now perpendicular to the original
polarization of the entry beam.  The oriented axle of a wheel has an
analogous effect on obliquely applied, frictional road forces.

Bob

Bob Sciamanda (W3NLV)
Physics, Edinboro Univ of PA (em)
trebor@velocity.net
http://www.velocity.net/~trebor

----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Sciamanda <trebor@VELOCITY.NET>
To: <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu>
Sent: Monday, November 08, 1999 9:20 AM
Subject: Re: "Negotiating" a curve. NOT SIMPLE


> When the front wheel is suddenly turned, a large frictional force arises
> at the tire/road interface, directed in the present -v direction (toward
> the rear).  Resolve this large force into two components, tangential and
> perpendicular to the TURNED wheel.  The tangential component will
produce
> a torque and rotationally accelerate the wheel in its new direction.
The
> perpendicular component is "thwarted" by static friction;  the wheel's
> response to this large "irresistible" perpendicular force is tantamount
to
> the wheel "pushing itself off a wall".  This push is directed "inward",
> perpendicular to the (turned) wheel plane and is, I think, the major
> "source" of the centripetal force which Ludwik is seeking.
>
> Bob
>
> Bob Sciamanda (W3NLV)
> Physics, Edinboro Univ of PA (em)
> trebor@velocity.net
> http://www.velocity.net/~trebor