Question

When a car is driven too fast around a curve it skids outward. How does passenger sitting inside explain the car’s motion? How would an observer standing by the road side explain the event?

Answer 1

The passenger inside the car is in the reference frame of the car so he experiences centrifugal force

= \(\frac{mv^2}{r}\) acting on the car. So, to remain in circular path force should be larger as it is proportional to v². For an observer on the road side finds that the centripetal force \(\frac{mv^2}{r}\) acting on the car becomes inadequate with increases in v. Since again v² ∝ r is insufficient so the car skids.