Calculate Initial Velocities & Determine Fault: Skid Data Analysis"

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a collision between two vehicles, an H2 and a Mini Cooper, with a skid mark of 7.6 m at an angle of 51 degrees North of East. The objective is to calculate the initial velocities of both vehicles and determine who should receive a ticket based on the speed limit of 30 mph.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the conservation of momentum and the need for additional information such as the masses of the vehicles and the coefficient of friction to solve the problem. Some express uncertainty about how to proceed without these values.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring the implications of missing data and questioning the assumptions necessary for solving the problem. Some guidance has been offered regarding the use of momentum conservation and standard acceleration equations, but no consensus has been reached on how to proceed without the required information.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the absence of vehicle masses and the coefficient of friction as significant constraints that complicate the analysis. There is uncertainty about whether these values are expected to be looked up or if they were omitted by mistake.

123bob123
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Homework Statement


A H2 was headed North and a convertible Mini Cooper was headed East. Due to faulty traffic signals, they collided, leaving a skid mark 7.6 m long at an angle of 51 degrees North of East. What was the initial velocity of each vehicle and, if the speed limit was 30 mph, who should get a ticket

Using the above skid data, what would the intitial velocities and who should get the ticket if the East-bound car was a Smart Car and the North-bound car was the convertible Mini?

Had to toss out the rest of the template as I really am in the dark. Seems really simple but I can't for the life of me recall how to attack this.
 
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Hi 123bob123! :wink:

(i assume the question gives you masses, and the coefficient of fricyion?)

Momentum is always conserved in collisions, so use conservation of momentum (and find the final velocity from the stopping distance and the standard constant acceleration equations).

What do you get? :smile:​
 
According to the problem itself, it doesn't give the mass for the vehicles or the coefficient which is what is throwing me for a loop. Is there any way to do this?
 
mass of H2 > then mass of Mini coop

assume same tires same road so friction coeff is the same
 
Do you mind running me through the problem or a similar example? As I'm not entirely sure how I would be to make assumptions without the actual numbers.
 
Hi 123bob123! :smile:
123bob123 said:
According to the problem itself, it doesn't give the mass for the vehicles or the coefficient which is what is throwing me for a loop. Is there any way to do this?

No. You need at least to know the coefficient of friction, and the approximate ratio of masses of the two vehicles. :frown:

(do they expect you to look them up? :redface:)
 
I really doubt that is the case. Must've been a mistake.
 

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