What best describes a banked curve?

• A. A curve designed to be taken at moderate speed
• B. A road with steeper slopes on the outside of the curve
• C. A curve you can take at a slightly higher speed
• D. A road that has no banking

Answer: (C)

Banked curves use a cross-slope so the road tilts toward the inside of the turn. The outer edge is higher, which helps push the car toward the curve’s center as you enter the turn. This means you can negotiate the curve at a higher speed than you could on a flat road because part of the necessary centripetal force comes from gravity acting down the slope. So, the curve is described as something you can take at a slightly higher speed.

In plain terms: the tilt of the road makes it easier to turn without relying as much on friction, up to a point. If the speed becomes too high or conditions are slick, control can still be lost, but the basic idea is that a banked curve lets you pass through it a bit faster than a non-banked one.