Calculating Car Speed: Using Skid Marks and Friction Coefficient

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In summary, the police are examining an accident scene and measure the skid marks of one car to be 81 meters long. Using the coefficient of kinetic friction between rubber and pavement, which is 0.70, the initial speed of the car can be estimated to be 33.34 m/s assuming a level road. This requires the use of kinematics and Newton's second law, as the only force acting on the car is the force of friction. By substituting known values and using kinematics equations, the answer can be calculated.
  • #1
TriumphDog1
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ok, i have a problem and its answer, but I am not sure how to get the answer:
Police lieutenants, examining the scene of an accident involving two cars, measure the skid marks of one of the cars, which nearly came to a stop before colliding, to be 81 m long. The coefficient of kinetic friction between rubber and the pavement is about 0.70. Estimate the initial speed of that car assuming a level road.
the answer is 33.34.
I can't figure out how to get that answer.
 
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  • #2
Essentially, this is a problem with requires the use of kinematics and Newton's second law.
The only force acting on the car (neglecting things like drag) is the force of the friction, [tex]F_k[/tex]
Now, we know that [tex] F_k = \mu _k N [/tex]
Here, the normal force [tex] N = mg [/tex]
Now, let us substitute N into [tex]F_k[/tex]:
[tex]F_k = \mu _k mg[/tex]
From Newton's second law we know that: [tex] F_{net} = ma [/tex]
But since we know that the only force acting on the car is [tex]F_k[/tex], we can substitute [tex]F_k[/tex] for [tex]F_{net}[/tex]. We get:
[tex]F_k = ma [/tex]
[tex]\mu _k mg = ma [/tex]
Canceling the m-s out,
[tex]\mu _k g = a[/tex]
Now, let us use kinematics equations:
[tex]v_f^2 = v_0^2 + 2a(\Delta x)[/tex]
From which we get,
[tex]v_0 = \sqrt{2a(\Delta x) - v_f^2}[/tex]
Substituting for a
[tex]v_0 = \sqrt{2(mu _k g)(\Delta x) - v_f^2}[/tex]
Substituting our givens,
[tex]v_0 = \sqrt{2(0.70)(9.81)(81) - 0}[/tex]
[tex]v_0 = 33.34[/tex]
QDE

Hope this helped.
 
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  • #3
yes thank you.
 

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