Question

Describe how a driver can steer a car traveling at constant speed so that (a) the acceleration is zero or (b) the magnitude of the acceleration remains constant.

Short answer

(a) The acceleration of the car driver will be zero on the straight road without any left or right turn.

(b) The magnitude of the car remains constant for steer of car on a circular curve.

Step-by-step solution

Identification of given data

The acceleration of an object is the variation in the velocity of object with position and time. This also describes the force on a moving object.

Description for zero acceleration of driver(a)

The necessary condition for the acceleration is either change in magnitude of speed or direction of the object.The car driver is travelling with a constant speed. If the road is straight and there is no left or right turn so direction of car is also not varyingand acceleration of driver in this condition will be zero.

Therefore, theacceleration of the car driver will be zero on the straight road without any left or right turn.

Description for constant magnitude of acceleration

(b)

The acceleration of the object in circular motion remains constant so the car driver should steer car along a circular curve to maintain the magnitude of acceleration constant. This occurs due to continuous variation in the direction around circular curve.

Therefore, the magnitude of the car remains constant for steer of car on a circular curve.