You drive round a bend once at 30 km/h and again at 60 km/h. How does the centrifugal force change?

When you drive around a bend, the centrifugal force acting on the vehicle increases with speed. The force is calculated based on the speed of the vehicle and the radius of the bend. In this scenario, when you increase your speed from 30 km/h to 60 km/h, the centrifugal force does not just double; it actually quadruples.

This is because the centrifugal force is proportional to the square of the speed. Therefore, if you double your speed (from 30 to 60 km/h), the force increases by a factor of four (2 squared equals 4). Understanding this principle is important for safe driving in Germany, as the higher the centrifugal force, the more likely it is that a vehicle could skid out of control on a bend, especially if the road conditions are poor or if there are factors such as loose gravel or wet surfaces.

This knowledge is vital for recognizing the dangers of taking bends too quickly and making informed decisions about speed limits and driving safely, in compliance with German traffic laws.