Re: What is the longest straight line that could pass through a U bend?

Hi Lain,

For the base case, this can be either done mathematically, or graphically. I did a quick drawing in AutoCad to graphically solve the problem (see below, answer = 7.35 m). The maximum length can only be achieved if you have 4 wheel steering or if you break the rear wheels loose and "drift" through the corner. A traditional two wheel steering car could not position itself optimally in the corner without sliding the tires and therefor it would need to be shorter than the maximum theoretical case.

In your question, you ask "what is the longest straight line." but then you state the car is 1.6 m wide, if the car were just a line, the max line length would be 8.77 m (see above).

If you are using a traditional car with two-wheel steering and the tires are not sliding, then the answer would be different and many other factors would come into play such as wheel diameter, car body overhang etc., and in any case in the real world the goal would be to get through the corner as fast as possible, and this would not be achieved with the longest car possible.

-Bart