Given:
- Friction between tires and road prevents car from slipping.
- F_f has a max value of 80\% of car weight.
- The maximum angle is \alpha.
Reasoning
- F_{max} = 0.80 * W_{car}. Beyond F_{max} the car slides down the hill.
- F_{parallel} = W_{car} * \sin\alpha (obtained from previous problem)is the actual force on the roadway.
- The maximum angle occurs when the W_{car} * \sin\alpha = 0.80 * W_{car}
Calculations:
\sin\alpha = \left(\frac{.8W_{car}}{W_{car}}\right)\sin\alpha = .8
\alpha = \arcsin{.8} = 53.13^{\circ}
Some observaions
I do not ever want to be on a grade of 53%. I could not stand up on it. Consider the following:
- The famous Lombard Street in San Francisco, the curviest street in the world only has a grade of 14.3 %.
- The steepest street in San Francisco is Filbert Street between Hyde and Leavenworth at a grade of 31.5 %.
- An interstate is out of standard if it has a grade > 7%.
- Local roads are much higher. 12% or 15% are sometimes allowed.
- Driveways can be as much as 30% for a short distance
- Railroads generally avoid grades over 2%.
- Even commercial airplanes don't have numbers as high as 53%,
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