Bicycle friction on wet curve · PhysicsBowl 2025 #20
Physics · mechanics
Problem
A bike and rider with a combined mass of 70 kg ride through a curve of radius of 20 m at a speed of 11 sm. The road is wet and the coefficient of static friction between the road and the tires is 0.50. Which of the following correctly explains whether the bike and rider will slip and why.
a. The bike slips because the maximum speed the bike can go around the curve without slipping is 10 m/s.
b. The bike slips because the force the tires exert on the road is greater than the friction component of the force the road exerts on the tires.
c. The bike does not slip because the maximum speed the bike can go around the curve without slipping is 15 m/s.
d. The bike does not slip because the force the tires exert on the road is less than the friction component of the force the road exerts on the tires.
e. The bike does not slip because the coefficient of static friction is too large.