Question

A car weighs 1800 kg. The distance between its front and back axles is 1.8 m. Its centre of gravity is 1.05 m behind the front axle. Determine the force exerted by the level ground on each front wheel and each back wheel.

Answer 1

Mass of the car, m = 1800 kg

Distance between the front and back axles, d = 1.8 m

Distance between the C.G. (centre of gravity) and the back axle = 1.05 m 

The various forces acting on the car are shown in the following figure.

R_f and R_b are the forces exerted by the level ground on the front and back wheels respectively.

For rotational equilibrium, on taking the torque about the C.G., we have: