What Causes Car Wheels to Roll on the Road? Here is the Answer
What causes a car's wheels to roll on the road is a question often asked by many people. So what is the cause? To answer this, pay attention to the following review.
Causes of Car Wheels Rolling on the Road
When observing a moving car, some people wonder why the car's wheels can roll on the road. So what factors cause this to happen? To answer that question, you need to understand the concept of physics regarding rolling motion from rotational dynamics. The explanation is as follows.
Before continuing to the discussion about rolling motion, it is advisable to understand what is meant by circular motion, so you won't be confused when understanding what is meant by rolling motion.
Circular motion is a combination of two motions, namely rotational motion and translational motion. Rotational motion can be defined as spinning motion. Meanwhile, translational motion can be defined as forward motion, for example from right to left or vice versa, and motion from top to bottom or vice versa.
Rolling motion can be defined as the motion of an object that not only rotates but also performs translational motion. Although rolling motion can cause rotational motion in an object, rolling motion is different from rotational motion.
An object is said to be rotating if it spins around a pivot point and does not experience a change in position. Meanwhile, an object can be said to be rolling if it spins around a pivot point but experiences a change in position.
As a result, an object that is rolling will have a distance traveled while the object rotates around its axis.
Example: The hands of a clock that rotate are part of the concept of rotational motion. Meanwhile, the wheels of a vehicle that move are the concept of rolling motion.
From the physics concepts above, it can be understood what causes car wheels to roll on the road. The complete causes are as follows.
1. The mechanism of car wheels adheres to the concept of rotational dynamics
The first cause is that car wheels adhere to the concept of rotational dynamics, especially rolling motion. As is known, the mechanism of car wheels can produce both rotational and translational motion. Both motions can also be combined simultaneously when the car wheels move.
Read Also: 4 Types of Drive Systems in Cars, What Are They?
2. The presence of friction between the surface of the car wheels and the road surface
The next cause is due to the friction between the surface of the car wheels and the road surface. As is known, in the concept of physics regarding rolling motion from rotational dynamics, an object can roll well if it moves on a rough surface. This occurs because the friction between the rough surfaces of the objects can generate frictional force (dynamic force) that also produces acceleration force.
As is known, the surface of car wheels has patterns that are useful for generating grip on the asphalt surface. Meanwhile, the asphalt surface on the road has a rough surface, so when the surface of the car wheels comes into contact with the asphalt surface, it will generate frictional force. This force produces acceleration force so that the car wheels can roll well.
So what happens if the road surface is made smooth? Can the car wheels still roll? The answer is, they can still roll, but the car wheels will skid and cause accidents.
After reading the review above, you must no longer be curious about the causes of car wheels rolling on the road. To ensure your car wheels can roll well on the road, you need to check the condition of the tire surface. Immediately replace the tires at Daihatsu official workshop if the surface is already smooth, to avoid the car skidding on the road.
