A Car Travels at a Constant Speed: Free Body Diagram
Introduction
When a car travels at a constant speed, the forces acting on it are in equilibrium. This means that the net force on the car is zero. The free body diagram for a car traveling at a constant speed is shown below.
Free Body Diagram
The forces acting on the car are:
* Weight (W): The weight of the car is the force of gravity pulling down on it.
* Normal force (N): The normal force is the force exerted by the road on the tires of the car. It is equal in magnitude to the weight of the car.
* Friction (F): Friction is the force that opposes the motion of the car. It is caused by the interaction of the tires with the road.
Equilibrium
The net force on the car is zero because the forces acting on it are in equilibrium. This means that the sum of the forces in the horizontal direction is zero and the sum of the forces in the vertical direction is zero.
In the horizontal direction, the friction force is equal in magnitude to the force applied by the engine. This is because the car is traveling at a constant speed, which means that the net force in the horizontal direction is zero.
In the vertical direction, the normal force is equal in magnitude to the weight of the car. This is because the car is not accelerating in the vertical direction, which means that the net force in the vertical direction is zero.
Conclusion
The free body diagram for a car traveling at a constant speed shows that the forces acting on the car are in equilibrium. This means that the net force on the car is zero. The forces acting on the car are the weight, the normal force, and friction.
