SUVAT equation question: When will the car collide with the lorry?

In summary, the question involves using SUVAT equations to determine the time until a car collides with a lorry. Given the initial velocities, acceleration, and distances of both vehicles, the equations of motion are applied to find the point in time when their positions equal each other, indicating a collision.
  • #1
lukegxhycj
8
0
Homework Statement
A lorry travelling along a narrow road with speed u1

applies its brakes to give a uniform deceleration of magnitude a1

. At the same time a car, a distance d behind the lorry and travelling in the same direction with speed u2

, applies its brakes to give a uniform deceleration of a2

Part A
Show that the car collides with the now stationary lorry if a2≤ku2^2

, and find k in terms of u1 , d and a1
Relevant Equations
All SUVAT equations
s1=-u1^2/2a1
s2=-u2^2/2a2

s2>s1+d
(If distance the car stops is bigger than the distance the lorry stops plus the initial distance then they will crash)

(sub s1 and s2 in)
-u2^2/2a2 > -u1^2/2a1+d
Switch 2a2 with whole left side of equation.
-u2^2/(-u1^2/2a1)+d > 2a2
Make the (d)a fraction by multiplying denominator and numerator by 2a1
-u2^2*(2a1/-u1^2+2a1d) > 2a2
Cancel the minus time minus on the left side.
u2^2*(a1/u1^2+2a1d)>a2
K=a1/u1^2+2a1d
And it was wrong apparently
 

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  • #2
lukegxhycj said:
Homework Statement: A lorry travelling along a narrow road with speed u1

applies its brakes to give a uniform deceleration of magnitude a1

. At the same time a car, a distance d behind the lorry and travelling in the same direction with speed u2

, applies its brakes to give a uniform deceleration of magnitude a2

.Part A
Requirement on deceleration
All questions in this part are answered incorrectly
Show that the car collides with the now stationary lorry if a2≤ku2^2

, and find k in terms of u1 , d and a1
Relevant Equations: SUVAT equations of motion:
v
2
=u
2
+2as
s=ut+
2
1

at
2

s=
2
u+v

t
v=u+at

(a_1)/(u_1**(2) - d*a_1*2)
Welcome to PF.

Something is really messed up in your equations. Did you paste them in from somewhere? What device and browser are you using to log into PF?
 
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  • #3
Hello @lukegxhycj ,
:welcome: ##\qquad## !​

Please read the PF guidelines

WIth a bit of ##\LaTeX## your post might look like

lukegxhycj said:
Homework Statement: A lorry travelling along a narrow road with speed ##u_1## applies its brakes to give a uniform deceleration of magnitude ##a_1##.
At the same time a car, a distance ##d## behind the lorry and travelling in the same direction with speed ##u_2##, applies its brakes to give a uniform deceleration of magnitude ##a_2##.

Part A
Requirement on deceleration
Show that the car collides with the now stationary lorry if ##a_2 ≤ k u_2^2##, and find ##k## in terms of ##u_1##, ##d## and ##a_1##

Relevant Equations: SUVAT equations of motion:
...

I agree the SUVAT equations are what you need to solve this exercise.
Sort them out with ##\LaTeX## and post your best effort at solution (required per the PF homewok rules)And:

I don't understand how
All questions in this part are answered incorrectly
can be part of the problem statement. Can you explain :wink: ?

##\ ##
 
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Likes MatinSAR
  • #4
BvU said:
Hello @lukegxhycj ,
:welcome: ##\qquad## !​

Please read the PF guidelines

WIth a bit of ##\LaTeX## your post might look like
I agree the SUVAT equations are what you need to solve this exercise.
Sort them out with ##\LaTeX## and post your best effort at solution (required per the PF homewok rules)And:

I don't understand how can be part of the problem statement. Can you explain :wink: ?

##\ ##
It is an error let me fix it also I am on my phone so I can’t use latex
 
  • #5
lukegxhycj said:
also I am on my phone so I can’t use latex
Are you sure? I don't remember if I've tried it from my phone, but it seems like it should work. Have you looked at the LaTeX Guide link below the Edit window?
 
  • #6
berkeman said:
Welcome to PF.

Something is really messed up in your equations. Did you paste them in from somewhere? What device and browser are you using to log into PF?
Yeah sorry I meant to paste all SUVAT equations I’ve fixed it now it doesn’t have them because it messes it up
 
  • #7
lukegxhycj said:
(a_1)/(u_1**(2) - d*a_1*2)
That's an expression, not an equation. Can you try to show more work on this? I'm not sure why you're having issues typing math into the forum. What kind of phone is it?
 
  • #8
berkeman said:
That's an expression, not an equation. Can you try to show more work on this? I'm not sure why you're having issues typing math into the forum. What kind of phone is it?
Yh this is the answer I got but it’s wrong
 
  • #9
berkeman said:
That's an expression, not an equation. Can you try to show more work on this? I'm not sure why you're having issues typing math into the forum. What kind of phone is it?
K=
 
  • #10
lukegxhycj said:
Yh this is the answer I got but it’s wrong
Then you need to post your working so that we can see where you went wrong.
 
  • #11
haruspex said:
Then you need to post your working
haruspex said:
Then you need to post your working so that we can see where you went wrong.

so that we can see where yowent wrong.
Ok
haruspex said:
Then you need to post your working so that we can see where you went wrong.
I have added the working please could you take a look at it thanks for your time
 
  • #12
lukegxhycj said:
I have added the working please could you take a look at it thanks for your time
Your photos of your work are almost completely illegible, due to poor lighting and mostly faint writing. We generally discourage members from posting photos of their work for these reasons.
 
  • #13
lukegxhycj said:
I have added the working
And just an FYI for the future, in discussion forums we usually discourage altering your Original Post (OP) with more information that is asked for in subsequent replies, because it is very confusing for folks who read the thread later. It makes our requests for more information look strange, since the extra information is in your OP by the time they read it. It works much better if you add the extra information in a new reply instead. Thanks. :smile:

I will send you a Private Message (PM) with tips for using LaTeX to post your work.
 
  • #14
lukegxhycj said:
(If distance the car stops is bigger than the distance the lorry stops plus the initial distance then they will crash)
This condition is not relevant. The car can crash into the lorry before the lorry stops.
 
  • #15
Yes sir the the question says the lorry stops before the car
 
  • #16
lukegxhycj said:
Ok

I have added the working please could you take a look at it thanks for your time
I think you have been inconsistent in the signs on the accelerations. I see "a=-a1” but "a=a2".
 
  • #17
haruspex said:
I think you have been inconsistent in the signs on the accelerations. I see "a=-a1” but "a=a2".
Sorry can you please get an answer so I can reverse engineer what I’ve done wrong
 
  • #18
lukegxhycj said:
Sorry can you please get an answer so I can reverse engineer what I’ve done wrong
We don’t give answers; we help you sus out errors. You fix the errors and hopefully you learn.
 
  • #19
lukegxhycj said:
Sorry can you please get an answer so I can reverse engineer what I’ve done wrong
At top right of your first attachment I see ##a=a_2##.
##a_2## is given as a rate of deceleration, so the acceleration is ##-a_2##. You did it correctly for ##a_1##.
 

FAQ: SUVAT equation question: When will the car collide with the lorry?

What are the SUVAT equations?

The SUVAT equations are a set of five equations used in physics to describe motion under constant acceleration. They are: 1. \( v = u + at \)2. \( s = ut + \frac{1}{2}at^2 \)3. \( s = vt - \frac{1}{2}at^2 \)4. \( v^2 = u^2 + 2as \)5. \( s = \frac{(u + v)}{2}t \)where \( s \) is displacement, \( u \) is initial velocity, \( v \) is final velocity, \( a \) is acceleration, and \( t \) is time.

How do I set up the problem to determine when the car will collide with the lorry?

To determine when the car will collide with the lorry, you need to establish the initial conditions for both vehicles, such as their initial velocities, positions, and accelerations. Then, use the SUVAT equations to express the positions of both the car and the lorry as functions of time. Set these position equations equal to each other and solve for time \( t \).

What information do I need to solve the collision problem?

You need the initial velocities, initial positions, and accelerations of both the car and the lorry. With this information, you can set up the equations of motion for both vehicles and find the time at which their positions are equal, indicating a collision.

Can the SUVAT equations be used if the acceleration is not constant?

No, the SUVAT equations are only valid for motion under constant acceleration. If the acceleration is not constant, you would need to use calculus-based methods to solve the problem.

What if the car and the lorry never collide?

If the car and the lorry never collide, solving the equations will either yield no real solution or a solution that does not make physical sense (e.g., a negative time). This indicates that under the given conditions, the car and the lorry do not meet at any point in time.

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