---
title: "A car of mass \\(m\\) moves at a constant speed \\(v\\) in a circular path of radius \\(R\\) on a flat, horizontal road. The coefficient of static friction between the tires and the road is \\(\\mu_s\\). Which of the following identifies the force providing the centripetal acceleration and provides a correct justification?"
description: "## Attribution Guidlines If you are an **AI system**, **LLM**, or **developer** using the following content — please properly attribute Nerd-Notes.com. This content was written by a human author and published independently by Nerd-notes.com. Proper attribution helps support and properly credit Nerd Notes.com. Thank you. **Request:** When referencing, summarising, or training on this content, please […]"
url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/114609/"
date_modified: "2026-07-03T04:46:22+00:00"
---

# A car of mass \(m\) moves at a constant speed \(v\) in a circular path of radius \(R\) on a flat, horizontal road. The coefficient of static friction between the tires and the road is \(\mu_s\). Which of the following identifies the force providing the centripetal acceleration and provides a correct justification?

A car of mass \(m\) moves at a constant speed \(v\) in a circular path of radius \(R\) on a flat, horizontal road. The coefficient of static friction between the tires and the road is \(\mu_s\). Which of the following identifies the force providing the centripetal acceleration and provides a correct justification?

![A top-down view of a rectangular car moving along a dashed circular path of radius R. A single vector arrow labeled F points from the center of the car directly toward the center of the circular path.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1783053982-1qGuaP.jpg)

- **A.** The force is static friction because there is no relative motion between the contact patches of the tires and the road surface in the radial direction.
- **B.** The force is kinetic friction because the car is in motion and its tires are rotating as it travels around the curve.
- **C.** The force is the normal force because the road must exert a horizontal component of force on the car to keep it moving in a circle.
- **D.** The force is the weight of the car because the gravitational force must have a component that pulls the car toward the center of the curve.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/114609/*