Explain why the stability of a car can be improved by widening the wheel base and lowering the centre of gravity.

A car will topple over when it is tilted so far that the line of action from the centre of gravity falls outside of the wheel base, causing a resultant moment around the side being tilted. Extending the base and lowering the centre of gravity increases the angle through which the car can be tilted before this happens. (Would then use learning space to draw diagrams of right-triangles showing why this is so)

Answered by Tim H. Physics tutor

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