A car accelerates on a horizontal road due to the force exerted by

Options

A. the engine of the car
B. the driver of the car
C. the earth
D. the road

Answer

To determine the force that causes a car to accelerate on a horizontal road, we can analyze the situation step by step:

### Step 1: Identify the forces acting on the car
When a car accelerates, several forces are at play. The primary forces include:
- The force exerted by the engine of the car.
- The frictional force between the tires and the road.
- The gravitational force acting downwards.
- The normal force acting upwards from the road.

### Step 2: Understand the role of the engine
The engine of the car generates power that is transmitted to the wheels. This power allows the wheels to rotate, which in turn interacts with the road surface.

### Step 3: Analyze the frictional force
As the wheels of the car rotate, they push backward against the road due to friction. This frictional force is crucial because it prevents the wheels from slipping and allows the car to move forward.

### Step 4: Apply Newton's Third Law of Motion
According to Newton's Third Law, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When the tires push backward against the road, the road exerts an equal and opposite force forward on the tires. This forward force is what propels the car forward.

### Step 5: Conclusion
The car accelerates on a horizontal road due to the force exerted by the road, which is a reaction to the frictional force exerted by the tires. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is that the car accelerates due to the force exerted by the road.

### Summary of the Solution
1. Identify the forces acting on the car.
2. Understand the role of the engine in generating power.
3. Analyze the frictional force between the tires and the road.
4. Apply Newton's Third Law to understand the interaction between the tires and the road.
5. Conclude that the road exerts the necessary force for the car's acceleration.