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Two cars A and B slide on an icy road as they attempt to stop at a traffic light

ID: 2262348 • Letter: T

Question

Two cars A and B slide on an icy road as they attempt to stop at a traffic light. The mass of A is 1100 kg, and the mass of B is 1400 kg. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the locked wheels of either car and the road is 0.13. Car A succeeds in stopping at the light, but car B cannot stop and rear-ends car A. After the collision, A stops 8.2 m ahead of its position at impact, and B is 6.1 m ahead; see the figure. Both drivers had their brakes locked throughout the incident.

(a) From the distance each car moved after the collision, find the speeds of cars A and B

immediately after impact.

(b) Use conservation of linear momentum to find the speed at which car B struck car A.

(c) On what grounds can the use of momentum conservation be criticized here

Two cars A and B slide on an icy road as they attempt to stop at a traffic light. The mass of A is 1100 kg, and the mass of B is 1400 kg. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the locked wheels of either car and the road is 0.13. Car A succeeds in stopping at the light, but car B cannot stop and rear-ends car A. After the collision, A stops 8.2 m ahead of its position at impact, and B is 6.1 m ahead; see the figure. Both drivers had their brakes locked throughout the incident. From the distance each car moved after the collision, find the speeds of cars A and B immediately after impact. Use conservation of linear momentum to find the speed at which car B struck car A. On what grounds can the use of momentum conservation be criticized here

Explanation / Answer

a) car A

acceleration=mu*g=0.13*9.8=1.274 m/s^2

s=8.2 m

==> v1=sqrt(2as)=sqrt(2*1.274*8.2)=4.57 m/s

car B

acceleration=mu*g=0.13*9.8=1.274 m/s^2

s=6.1 m

==> v2=sqrt(2as)=sqrt(2*1.274*6.1)=3.94 m/s


b) by conaserving momentum

m1v1 +m2v2=m2*V

==> 1400*V=1100*4.57+1400*3.94

==> V=7.53 m/s

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