Question

A car is moving in uniform circular motion. The direction of friction between the tyres and the path is ______.

Options

• towards the centre.

• tangential to the path.

Answer 1

A car is moving in uniform circular motion. The direction of friction between the tyres and the path is towards the centre.

Explanation:

An object must experience a net force directed towards the centre of the circle to travel in a circular path. The force is called centripetal force. When a car turns a turn on a level surface, the static friction between the tyres and the road supplies the required centripetal force. Therefore, the orientation of friction is directed towards the centre of the circular path.