Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Theta refers to the minimum angle of inclination of a banked curve, which is determined by the formula arctan(v² / (r * g)). It represents the angle at which a vehicle can safely navigate a curved road without slipping or skidding.
Related terms
Velocity (v): Velocity refers to the speed and direction of an object's motion. It determines how fast an object is moving along a curved path.
Radius is the distance from the center of a circle to its outer edge. In this context, it represents the radius of curvature for a banked curve.
Acceleration due to gravity (g): Acceleration due to gravity is a constant value that determines how quickly objects fall towards Earth. It plays a role in calculating the minimum angle of inclination for a banked curve.