Crash Acceleration: Calculate SUV's Rate of Change in Velocity

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the acceleration of an SUV that crashes into a concrete wall, given its initial velocity, final velocity, and the distance over which the crash occurs. The context is within kinematics, specifically focusing on motion with constant acceleration.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the known variables such as initial and final velocities and the distance of crumpling. They explore relevant formulas for constant acceleration and identify the appropriate equation to use.

Discussion Status

The discussion is progressing with participants identifying the relevant formula for acceleration and confirming the variables involved. There is a collaborative effort to rearrange the formula to isolate acceleration, indicating a productive direction in the conversation.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention a formula sheet provided for the test, which may influence the approach to solving the problem. There is an emphasis on the importance of direction when dealing with acceleration.

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Homework Statement


A person drives his SUV into a concrete wall. The car was initially moving East at 12.5m/s and the hood crumples a distance of 1.2m during the crash. What is the acceleration of the car during the crash? (don't forget directions when dealing with acceleration)

I don't even know where to begin.
 
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What constant acceleration formulae do you know?
 
almost all of them, i was given a big formula sheet that we are allowed to use in the test.
 
So this is what we have:

initial velocity (12.5ms-1)
final velocity (0.0ms-1)
distance (1.2m)

What we need:

acceleration

What formula do you know that uses only these variables?
 
Vf^2 = Vi^2 +2ad
 
Perfect! Now we just need to re-arrange that formula and solve for a!
 

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