Drag is the force of air resistance (a form of friction)
pushing against the front of the car while it is moving.
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The Forces on a Moving Car.
What are the Forces on a Moving Car?
The forces acting on a moving
car are thrust and drag
as well as the same forces that act
on a stationary
car.
Drag is the force of air
resistance (a form of friction)
pushing against the front of the car
while it is moving.
Thrust is the force
pushing the car
forwards.
Thrust comes from the engine turning the
wheels.
How do Wheels make a Car go Forwards?
Tyres on the wheels push
backwards against the road
as
they try to turn, causing an
equal
and opposite force
which pushes the car forwards.
The tyres must have good
grip (a high
friction)
so that they do not slide on the
road surface.
If the forces of thrust and
drag are equal,
then the forces are balanced and
the car will move with a constant velocity.
If the forces of thrust and
drag are not equal, then
the forces are unbalanced and the
car will accelerate.
The car will get faster if thrust is bigger than
drag,
and slower if the drag is bigger than the thrust.
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