All right, all you skilled drivers:

You're approaching a turn in the road. Do you:

a) Take the corner on the inside, making the fastest time?
b) Take the corner on the outside, decreasing the angular rate of turn?
c) Take the corner in the middle, for the best of both worlds?

Physically, the centripetal acceleration is equal to the square of the velocity devided by the radius -- which means that a larger radius turn requires a smaller centripetal acceleration, and is thus easier on the car (and its tires).

On the other hand, it feels a little weird to be driving on the outside of turns, when "conventional wisdom" suggests you should try to hug the inside.

What's the right answer?

- Warren

 

Out, in, out.

 

None of the above you apex the turn. Start from the outside hit the apex of the turn and then hit the other outside. It is the best way to come out of the turn with you speed still respectable.

 

Tedster,

When you're taking a corner that has a definite apex, definitely -- "out, in, out" will take you on a circular path through the turn.

That's not what I'm asking, though -- imagine a curve that is simply circular, with no apex. Just a sweeper. Then where do you plant the car?

- Warren

 

by taking the apex you are effectively creating a turn with a larger radius than what the pavement follows, thus increasing your speed. But you move the apex for different situations, i.e. passing, defending, more corners, etc.

 

By taking the turn as stated above, start at the outside hit the inside apex and then end on the outside at the end of the turn, you are straightening out the curve as much as possible. If you draw it out on a piece of paper, it will be very apparent why this line is the best.

Mark

 

in a sweeper there is still an optimized rate of entry to the apex and then exit.

 

Yes, that makes sense... even on a sweeper you still want to "apex" it to make the radius of curvature as large as possible... hence the centripetal acceleration as small as possible... hence the lateral g's as small as possible.

Thanks.

- Warren

 

Unless the turn is more than 359 degrees there is always an apex.............

 

Yeah, what if you're in one of those helical ramps into a parking garage? Then what do you do?

Just kidding.

- Warren