Calculating braking distance of a car

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the braking distance of a car given specific parameters, including weight, speed, and friction coefficients. Participants explore the implications of these factors on the car's ability to stop, considering both theoretical and practical aspects of the problem.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a calculation for braking distance but expresses concern about the high deceleration value and seeks guidance on potential errors in their approach.
  • Another participant points out that air resistance is not constant and decreases as the car slows down, suggesting that this affects the overall force calculations.
  • Several participants question the necessity of an opposing force to bring the vehicle to a stop, noting the absence of a kinetic friction coefficient and the implications of the down force on braking capability.
  • There is a discussion about the role of static versus kinetic friction, with some arguing that static friction does not apply until the car reaches zero velocity, complicating the stopping scenario.
  • One participant suggests that a differential equation may be necessary to accurately model the forces involved, given their dependence on velocity.
  • Another participant mentions that the braking action also needs to be considered, adding complexity to the problem.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various concerns and uncertainties about the problem, indicating that there is no consensus on the correct approach or the assumptions being made. Multiple competing views remain regarding the role of different forces and the implications for stopping distance.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of a kinetic friction coefficient, the dependence of forces on velocity, and the complexity introduced by the braking mechanism. These factors contribute to the unresolved nature of the calculations presented.

Blocker12
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Homework Statement


A car that weights 600kg, traveling at 300km/hr and the coefficient of static friction between the car and the road is 1.5, down force is equal to 2.6v^2 and air resistance is 1.5v^2 (v is in m/s). Calculate how many meters it would take for the car to stop with the breaks applied to there maximum value.

Homework Equations


V(final) = V(initial) + at
Work = -1/2mv^2
I'm not sure if there are more?

The Attempt at a Solution


N(normal force)= mg + 2.6v^2 when v = 83.3 (300km/hr converted to m/s)
N= 23921.1N
F(friction)= 1.5 * N
= 32881.7N
F(air resistance)= 1.5v^2 when v= 83.3
=10408.3N
Finding the acceleration of the forces
a= F/m
Total accelection = -77.3m/s^2
How long it takes to go from 300 to 0 [/B]
0=83.3-77.3*t
t=1.1sec
Integration of velocity formula to get the displacement formula
D=83.3*t-(77.2/2)*t^2 when t = 1.1
=44.9m

I feel like the deceleration is way to high (just under 8g) and I'm not sure how I'm to correct that as I feel like I have used formula incorrectly as doing from 300km/hr to 0 in just over a second can't be right,
so any help I can get to point me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You for your time
 
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Hi Blocker12.
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Air resistance is not a fixed 10408 N. It is proportional to v2, this means as the car slows, air resistance force reduces rapidly.

Similarly, friction has a velocity-dependent component, too.
 
The more I look at this problem, the more bizarre it looks back at me.
Why should the vehicle ever come to a stop? In order to stop, an opposing force is required even at zero velocity, which does not seem to be the case here.
The "down" force is a mystery. Since no kinetic friction coefficient is given, the force of friction is unknowable. And anyway, it woiuldn't help by the above observation.
Must be something I'm missing ...
 
rude man said:
The more I look at this problem, the more bizarre it looks back at me.
Why should the vehicle ever come to a stop? In order to stop, an opposing force is required even at zero velocity, which does not seem to be the case here.
The "down" force is a mystery. Since no kinetic friction coefficient is given, the force of friction is unknowable. And anyway, it woiuldn't help by the above observation.
Must be something I'm missing ...
The mass of the car is given, hence its weight, and the additional downforce I suppose could be attributed to aerodynamics since it's proportional to the velocity squared. The coefficient of static friction is given, so if we assume that the car employs an efficient ABS, then...
 
gneill said:
The mass of the car is given, hence its weight, and the additional downforce I suppose could be attributed to aerodynamics since it's proportional to the velocity squared. The coefficient of static friction is given, so if we assume that the car employs an efficient ABS, then...
How does the down force (I agree it's probably due to vertical air pressure) figure in the problem? No kinetic friction coeff. given, and even if it was you need a countervailing force finite even at zero velocity to have the car come to a stop:
m dv/dt + k v2 = 0 solves to
v(t) = mv0/(m + kv0t) > 0 for all finite t
where v0 = initial velocity.
Static friction does not come into play until v = 0 but the vehicle never stops.
 
rude man said:
How does the down force (I agree it's probably due to vertical air pressure) figure in the problem? No kinetic friction coeff. given, and even if it was you need a countervailing force finite even at zero velocity to have the car come to a stop:
m dv/dt + k v2 = 0 solves to
v(t) = mv0/(m + kv0t) > 0 for all finite t
where v0 = initial velocity.
Static friction does not come into play until v = 0 but the vehicle never stops.

It's the coefficient of static friction that determines the maximum braking capability. Kinetic friction enters the equation if the car skids.
 
rude man said:
How does the down force (I agree it's probably due to vertical air pressure) figure in the problem? No kinetic friction coeff. given, and even if it was you need a countervailing force finite even at zero velocity to have the car come to a stop:
m dv/dt + k v2 = 0 solves to
v(t) = mv0/(m + kv0t) > 0 for all finite t
where v0 = initial velocity.
Static friction does not come into play until v = 0 but the vehicle never stops.
The down force adds to the apparent weight, increasing the normal force, hence the maximal static friction.
 
Blocker12 said:
I feel like the deceleration is way to high (just under 8g) and I'm not sure how I'm to correct that as I feel like I have used formula incorrectly as doing from 300km/hr to 0 in just over a second can't be right,
so any help I can get to point me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You for your time

This is a far more difficult problem than can be solved by plugging numbers into one equation. To solve this, you need a proper mathematical approach. In fact, because the forces depend on ##v##, you will need to generate and solve a differential equation. Do you know much about such equations?
 
Since coeff of kinetic friction is always < static friction, for full marks perhaps the answer could take the form: stopping distance with brakes locked will be at least ...

 
  • #10
So far I considered only the tires against the pavement. But it seems the action of the brake is also to be considered, which makes the problem even more complex. Good luck everyone, I'm lost!
 

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