answersLogoWhite

0

Roads, particularly those that are designed for high-speed travel, tend to be inclined with the bottom at the inside of the curve and the top of the incline at the outside of the curve. This is to help the driver counteract the momentum of the car, which will tend to push the car towards the outside of the curve.

Momentum is the tendency of an object in motion to remain in motion on a straight line course unless acted upon by an outside force. Because the car is turning away from the straight line to follow the road, a force has to be applied to move the car from the straight line to the curve. Inclining the road helps provide this force - it helps turn the car by allowing gravity to pull the car down the incline and towards the center of the curve and counters the pull of the car towards the outside of the curve via momentum.

This is why, when driving at higher speeds, you have to be careful about how quickly you try to turn your car. If you try to turn faster than you can overcome the momentum of the car, you will flip the car sideways and start rolling it.

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

What else can I help you with?