Why is a vehicle's steering wheel made large in diameter?
ATo make the dashboard look balanced
BTo reduce friction between the wheel and the shaft
CTo increase the speed of the vehicle
DTo increase the moment about the steering shaft
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. To increase the moment about the steering shaft
1. The steering shaft acts as the pivot for the steering wheel.
2. The driver applies force at the rim of the wheel.
3. A larger radius means the perpendicular distance from the shaft is greater.
4. Moment = Force × Perpendicular distance, so a larger radius gives a larger moment.
5. So smaller effort can turn the steering shaft, making driving easier.
_Source: Selina Concise Physics ICSE Class 10, Ch 1 'Force' (icsehelp.com chapter extract)_
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