Banking of roads can be defined as the process of raising the edges of the curved road above the inner edge to provide the necessary centripetal force for the vehicles to take a safe turn. While studying the banking of roads, there are certain terminologies used in the banking of roads. One of the most important terminologies is the angle of banking.
The angle of banking is the angle at which the vehicle inclines. We can find the angle of banking by using the following expression,
Where,
θ = Angle of banking
r = Radius
v = Velocity
Another useful terminology is banked turn. It is the turn or change of direction in which the vehicle inclines toward the inside.
Roads are more often banked for the average speed of the vehicles passing over them. Nevertheless, if the velocity of a vehicle is lesser or more than this, the self-adjusting state of friction will operate between the tyre and road, and the vehicle will not skid.
Read More – Banking of Roads
Important Questions with Answers
- What is centripetal force?
Centripetal force is the force that pulls or pushes an object toward the centre of a circle as it travels, causing angular or circular motion.
2. Define the banking of roads.
Banking of roads is the phenomenon in which the outer edges of curved roads are raised above the inner edge to provide the required centripetal force to the vehicles in order for them to take a safe turn.
3. Write an expression for the angle of banking.
If any vehicle of mass m is moving with velocity v on the banked road with radius r and g is the acceleration due to gravity, then the angle of banking ‘θ’ can be represented as
4. What factors depend on the angle of banking?
The angle of banking is dependent on the velocity of the vehicle, the radius ‘r’ of the curved road on which the vehicle is moving and the acceleration due to gravity ‘g‘ at that place.
5. What will happen to the wheel of the car when it overturns while taking a turn?
- The inner wheel leaves the ground first
- The inner and outer wheel leaves the ground first
- There is no change in the inner wheel
- The outer wheel leaves the ground first
Answer – A. The inner wheel leaves the ground first
Explanation – If ‘μ’ is the coefficient of friction, ‘R‘ is the radius of the turn, and ‘g‘ is the acceleration due to gravity. then maximum velocity in curved motion without banking is given by
In this situation, for the inner wheel, the radius of the turns is less than the outer wheel, and that’s why its maximum speed is also less than that of the outer wheel. Thus, the inner wheel leaves the ground first.
6. Write the importance of banking.
Banking of roads helps us to prevent overturning and toppling. It also helps to avoid skidding. Banking of roads is a way of providing the required centripetal force to a vehicle to make a safe turn along a curved road. It is a technique for providing a vehicle with the centrifugal force necessary to navigate a curved road safely.
7. How does the banking of roads reduce the wear and tear of tyres?
When there is an unbanked force of friction between the tyres on a curved road, and the road provides the necessary centripetal force, friction must be increased appropriately, causing wear and tear. However, when the curved road is banked, the component of the normal reaction of the ground provides the necessary centripetal force. The role of friction becomes secondary, and therefore, wear and tear of the tires will get reduced.
8. Why is the banking of roads necessary for a circular road?
When any vehicle moves on a banking road, necessarily centripetal force is supplied by the frictional force between wheels and the surface of the road; this way, the vehicle safely moves in a curved path, and it doesn’t skid. Due to lack of centripetal force, vehicles tend to skid; hence, for safely driving on circular roads, banking of road is necessary.
9. What is an unbanked curve?
An unbanked curve is simply a curve or a turn that lies flat on the ground or is parallel to the horizontal.
10. Do we need a banked road for a two-wheeler?
When a two-wheeler makes a turn on an unbanked road, the centripetal force is provided by friction. Second, friction causes wear and tear on the tyres. Any vehicle, a four-wheeler or two-wheeler, can negotiate a turn on a banked road without relying on friction or straining the tyres.
Practice Questions
- What is the difference between centripetal force and centrifugal force?
- Find the angle of banking when a racing track with a radius of curvature of 600m is banked so as to be suitable for a maximum speed of 180 km/h.
- What is the difference between banked and unbanked curves?
- Write a note on the characteristics of the angle of banking.
- Write the equation for the safe velocity on the banked road.
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