Calculating Vehicle Speed at Impact: The Equation and Variables

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the speed of a vehicle at the moment of impact using physics principles. The user provides details of a collision involving two vehicles: Vehicle 1 (3600 lbs) at rest and Vehicle 2 (2600 lbs) impacting it. The user references Equation 2 from an external source, which relates to calculating the speed at impact (Ve) and highlights the importance of the coefficient of friction, particularly for wet asphalt, which ranges from 0.25 to 0.75. The user seeks assistance in determining the value of Ve based on the provided variables.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics concepts, particularly momentum and collision dynamics.
  • Familiarity with the coefficient of friction and its impact on vehicle motion.
  • Knowledge of vehicle weight and its role in collision analysis.
  • Ability to interpret and apply equations related to vehicle dynamics, such as those found in accident reconstruction.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the application of the conservation of momentum in vehicle collision analysis.
  • Learn how to calculate the coefficient of friction for different road conditions.
  • Study the use of Equation 2 from accident reconstruction resources for determining impact speed.
  • Explore the effects of vehicle weight and tire specifications on collision outcomes.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for accident reconstruction specialists, automotive engineers, and individuals involved in insurance claims related to vehicle collisions.

ninjaattackcat
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I am not too good at physics so I thought I would post here to find an answer to a question. I was recently involved in an automobile accident and was wondering if there was a formula to calculate how fast the other car was traveling at the time of impact. The details are as follows:

Vehicle 1 (v1)was traveling left and vehicle 2 (v2) hit the right front, so v1 was traveling at 0 mph in the direction of being pushed by v2 (think of an L or a T)
Vehicle hit (v1): 3600 lbs.
Vehicle doing the hitting (v2): 2600 lbs.
Distance v1 moved after impact: ~ 2 meters
Time: ~ 1 second
Speed after impact: 0 mph

Thanks if you can help out.

Edit:
Equation 2 on this page http://www.accidentexpert.com/engr/skidart1-a.html is what I am after I think, but I need to find out what Ve^2 is ... is there any way of finding this out? This would be the speed at impact.
 
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There are a lot of variables unaccounted for that would be crucial to determining the mass. Probably the most important one would be the coefficient of friction of the road where the collision took place.
 
MrXow said:
There are a lot of variables unaccounted for that would be crucial to determining the mass. Probably the most important one would be the coefficient of friction of the road where the collision took place.

Additional details that I do have are that the width of the tires on v1 are 235mm. I am sorry that I don't know the coefficient of friction of wet asphalt. I did however find this:
Material 1: Rubber Material 2: Asphalt (Wet) Coefficient of Friction: 0.25-0.0.75

Anything else needed?
 

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