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29

Part of 2007 F = Ma

Problems(1)

2007 F = ma #29: Maximum Acceleration

Source:

11/21/2012
A simplified model of a bicycle of mass MM has two tires that each comes into contact with the ground at a point. The wheelbase of this bicycle (the distance between the points of contact with the ground) is ww, and the center of mass of the bicycle is located midway between the tires and a height h above the ground. The bicycle is moving to the right, but slowing down at a constant rate. The acceleration has a magnitude aa. Air resistance may be ignored. [asy] size(175); pen dps = linewidth(0.7) + fontsize(4); defaultpen(dps); draw(circle((0,0),1),black+linewidth(2.5)); draw(circle((3,0),1),black+linewidth(2.5)); draw((1.5,0)--(0,0)--(1,1.5)--(2.5,1.5)--(1.5,0)--(1,1.5),black+linewidth(1)); draw((3,0)--(2.4,1.8),black+linewidth(1)); filldraw(circle((1.5,2/3),0.05),gray); draw((1.3,1.6)--(0.7,1.6)--(0.7,1.75)--cycle,black+linewidth(1)); label("center of mass of bicycle",(2.5,1.9)); draw((1.55,0.85)--(1.8,1.8),BeginArrow); draw((4.5,-1)--(4.5,2/3),BeginArrow,EndArrow); label("hh",(4.5,-1/6),E); draw((1.5,2/3)--(4.5,2/3),dotted); draw((0,-1)--(4.5,-1),dotted); draw((0,-5/4)--(3,-5/4),BeginArrow,EndArrow); label("ww",(3/2,-5/4),S); draw((0,-1)--(0,-6/4),dotted); draw((3,-1)--(3,-6/4),dotted); [/asy] Case 1 (Questions 28 - 29): Assume that the coefficient of sliding friction between each tire and the ground is μ\mu, and that both tires are skidding: sliding without rotating. Express your answers in terms of ww, hh, MM, and gg.
What is the maximum value of aa so that both tires remain in contact with the ground?
<spanclass=latexbold>(A)</span> wgh <span class='latex-bold'>(A)</span>\ \frac{wg}{h}
<spanclass=latexbold>(B)</span> wg2h <span class='latex-bold'>(B)</span>\ \frac{wg}{2h}
<spanclass=latexbold>(C)</span> hg2w <span class='latex-bold'>(C)</span>\ \frac{hg}{2w}
<spanclass=latexbold>(D)</span> h2wg <span class='latex-bold'>(D)</span>\ \frac{h}{2wg}
<spanclass=latexbold>(E)</span> none of the above <span class='latex-bold'>(E)</span>\ \text{none of the above}