When you turn the steering wheel (to turn a car) then release it, it goes straight back… How can it be?

Question

Is there any correlation with Newton's laws? Which one?

Answer 1

centrifugal force

Answer 2

Yes there is a correlation with Newton's Law but it is not so obvious in this case. The relationship could be applied to both the first and the second law. Basically, all matter has one property called inertia. Inertia means resistance to change in movement and it always takes force to change the direction of movement of any body with inertial mass. So the reason the steering wheel goes back is because it is resisting change in its path of motion. Now, don't be fooled thinking that only tires or the steering wheel are changing directions when you turn the steering wheel. You need enough force to counteract the resistance from the entire mass of the car. The whole car will be changing directions and therefore resisting movement. So the force needed should be enough for the entire car.

Answer 3

It's something like that. But basically, if you look at the way a car's steering system works, the wheels do more than just turn left and right, they actually slant sideways a bit too. Go look at any car parked on a hill that has the front tires properly (or improperly) turned torwards the curb (It looks like their camber is really messed up).

The simplest (and most accurate) analogy to this situation is actually just to look at a shopping cart. No matter how you turn, the wheel will always align itself straight with the path it's going. After staring at it for awhile you will see why. The car's steering returns as well because it's designed in the exact same manner.

Answer 4

To add to MissD's statement, camber is the word used to describe the 'tilt' of the wheel. In most cases a correct camber would have the top of the wheels closer to each other than the bottom of the wheels.

But, I believe the caster is the measurement of the front of the wheels in relation to the distance between them at the rear of the wheel. The proper alignment for a car would have the front tires pointing slightly in ward, or shorter distance at the front, longer at the back of the tire. This brings the front back to 'straight' when the steering wheel is released, if this alignment is out and not proper for your car, when you turn loose of the steering wheel your car will either drift to the left or right instead of running straight down the road.

Answer 5

Under IDEAL condition, even when you take off your hands from the steering wheel the car will go straight under uniform speed. This is as per Newton’s law.

Now to change the direction of motion of a car we must apply a force in the direction to which we want to turn. The force must be given externally. We can’t exert this force by being inside the car.

When we steer the wheel to left, what happens is, the frictional force between the road and tyre acts perpendicular to the direction of motion of car, so as to keep the turned wheel again to its normal position. (If the wheels turn to its normal position the steering wheel will also turn to its original position). But we are forcing the steering wheel not to return to its normal position.

As a result the centripetal force makes the car turn to left.

As soon as we take of our hands from the steering wheel, the frictional force turns the car wheels to its normal position and there is no force to prevent this action.

By Newton’s law to change the direction of motion a force is always necessary.

Answer 6

i could truly no longer have any of those issues at the same time as driving, besides the undeniable fact that, if you're asking whcih one i could opt for to lose if I had to p.c.. one... it can be the brakes. As having a pilots license, you assistance on a thanks to regulate a airplane without brakes or skill yet creative and prescient is the most important except you've not any administration, the 2d is steerage. as long as you could steer and word the position you're going, you've the flexibility to regulate more effective than in case you in straightforward words had brakes. preventing without shifting gained't stay away from a head on collision, it is going to in straightforward words postpone it.

Answer 7

its an adjustment on the front steering called "Caster" and it determines the force that is applied to the steering wheel to return to center.
A shopping cart front caster or swivel is a good example.

Answer 8

It's part of the car's suspension system. Contrary to popular belief, it's not the caster that returns the wheel to original position... it is the ball joint inclination.

Answer 9

It is the fig-newton law

Answer 10

DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!