Banked curves
Curves on roads or tracks tilted at an angle to the horizontal, so the normal force has a component pointing toward the centre of the circular path. A banked curve allows safe turning at higher speeds and reduces reliance on friction.
Formula
tan θ = v² / (rg)
Real World
The Daytona International Speedway banking reaches 31° in its turns, allowing NASCAR cars travelling at ~200 mph to corner without relying solely on tyre friction for centripetal force.
Exam Focus
Resolve forces perpendicular and parallel to the banked surface separately; always identify which component of the normal force provides centripetal force.
How well did you know this?