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Transistor
Transistor
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AskedI asked this in the physics stack but hopefully will get more interest here. So I understand that when driving on a curved path, the inner wheel must travel a shorter distance than the outer wheel. But why?

As the car begins to turn, both wheels want to continue rolling at the current speed in linear motion due to conservation of angular momentum. If the wheels are being driven by the engine, then the torque is equal to rolling resistance on both wheels so both maintain a constant speed. If the car is coasting, then both wheels are braked by rolling resistance by equal amounts. In order to change the speed of the inner and outer wheels, there must be additional torque(s), which must be different for the two wheels. What is this torque, and where does it come from? Assume that both wheels are rolling without slipping.

Asked in the physics stack but hopefully will get more interest here. So I understand that when driving on a curved path, the inner wheel must travel a shorter distance than the outer wheel. But why?

As the car begins to turn, both wheels want to continue rolling at the current speed in linear motion due to conservation of angular momentum. If the wheels are being driven by the engine, then the torque is equal to rolling resistance on both wheels so both maintain a constant speed. If the car is coasting, then both wheels are braked by rolling resistance by equal amounts. In order to change the speed of the inner and outer wheels, there must be additional torque(s), which must be different for the two wheels. What is this torque, and where does it come from? Assume that both wheels are rolling without slipping.

I asked this in the physics stack but hopefully will get more interest here. So I understand that when driving on a curved path, the inner wheel must travel a shorter distance than the outer wheel. But why?

As the car begins to turn, both wheels want to continue rolling at the current speed in linear motion due to conservation of angular momentum. If the wheels are being driven by the engine, then the torque is equal to rolling resistance on both wheels so both maintain a constant speed. If the car is coasting, then both wheels are braked by rolling resistance by equal amounts. In order to change the speed of the inner and outer wheels, there must be additional torque(s), which must be different for the two wheels. What is this torque, and where does it come from? Assume that both wheels are rolling without slipping.

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Reese
Reese
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When a car with an open differential turns, why does the inner wheel slow down and the outer wheel speed up?

Asked in the physics stack but hopefully will get more interest here. So I understand that when driving on a curved path, the inner wheel must travel a shorter distance than the outer wheel. But why?

As the car begins to turn, both wheels want to continue rolling at the current speed in linear motion due to conservation of angular momentum. If the wheels are being driven by the engine, then the torque is equal to rolling resistance on both wheels so both maintain a constant speed. If the car is coasting, then both wheels are braked by rolling resistance by equal amounts. In order to change the speed of the inner and outer wheels, there must be additional torque(s), which must be different for the two wheels. What is this torque, and where does it come from? Assume that both wheels are rolling without slipping.