Question

A car weight 1800kg.the distance between it's front and back axles is 1.8m. its centre of gravity is 1.05m behind the front axle. Determine the force exerted by the level ground on each front wheel and each back wheel

Answer 1

Mass of car m=1800kg

Distance between front and back axles d=1.8m

Distance between center of gravity and front axle=1.05m

Let Rb and Rf be the forces exerted by the level ground on the back and front wheels respectively.

At translational equilibrium:

Rf+Rb=mg=17640 N.....(i)

For rotational equilibrium, on taking the torque about the C.G., we have:

Rf(1.05)=Rb(1.8−1.05)⟹Rb=1.4Rf .......(ii)

Solving (i) and (ii) gives

Rf=7350 N

Rb=10290N

The force exerted on each front wheel =7350/2=3675 N

The force exerted on each back wheel =10290/2=5145N