Liam
The rear wheels (as you say) would 'like' to travel different distances. However, in the 'tangent' position one or both wheels are 'sliding' and thus, in line with the fixed axle ruling the system, they can both be at the same speed. The inner wheel is 'unloaded' (is experiencing less ground-pressure) and thus is the one which is more likely to b rotating at its 'non-preferred-speed'. The point being that nothing in the universe (short of a diff.) is going to allow them to rotate at separate speeds no matter how anyone 'argues' the causes/effects of cornering with a fixed axle. Strictly, the inner wheel is actually rotating FASTER then it's 'preferred speed' and thus it IS imparting extra acceleration to a small degree.
However, in the scenario that we do NOT let the kart slide (and thus lose some of the available traction) then it is IMPOSSIBLE for the kart to corner if BOTH rear wheels are on the ground if each is taking 'solid grip' of the track. Think about it, if neither rear wheel loses forward traction at all (in a forward-backward direction), then the kart MUST go straight on. The two front tyres CAN'T have affected the angle of the kart as the two rear wheels are SOLIDLY ATTACHED to the track.
The point being that, no matter what ANYBODY thinks, a kart will not corner if both rear wheels have sufficient grip on the track so that neither is 'sliding' at all. My 'tangential angle' describes the mechanism for this ability to slide (forward-backward) at least one of the wheels.
Ian
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