What Is the Car's Speed After Exiting the Mud Patch?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the speed of a 1100 kg car after it exits an 18 m mud patch, where it encounters a net horizontal resistive force of 1.7 x 10^4 N. The initial speed of the car is 24 m/s. The correct approach involves using the work-energy principle, specifically the change in kinetic energy (ΔKE), to account for the energy lost due to the resistive force. The final speed after traversing the mud patch is determined to be 4.4 m/s, indicating a significant reduction in speed due to the resistive force.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of kinetic energy (KE) and its formula: KE = 1/2mv^2
  • Familiarity with the work-energy principle and how to calculate work (W = Fd)
  • Basic knowledge of resistive forces and their impact on motion
  • Ability to manipulate equations involving energy and force
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the work-energy principle in detail, focusing on its application in physics problems
  • Learn how to calculate changes in kinetic energy (ΔKE) in various scenarios
  • Explore the effects of different resistive forces on object motion
  • Practice solving problems involving energy conservation in non-conservative systems
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of motion involving resistive forces and energy conservation principles.

alison16
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Homework Statement


A 1100kg car is traveling at 24m/s before it hits a 18m patch of mud with a 1.7 x 10^4 net horizontal resistive force. What is the cars speed as it leaves the mud patch?

Homework Equations


Change in Uint= fd
KE= 1/2mv^2
W= Fd

The Attempt at a Solution


1/2mv^2 = f(mud on car)d
1/2(1100)v^2 = 1.7 x 10^4(18)
V= 23.6 m/s

I'm pretty sure this isn't correct, because the resistive force is too great to have the final velocity change only slightly. I feel like I might need to incorporate work or the initial velocity into my equation, but I don't really know how.
 
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alison16 said:

Homework Statement


A 1100kg car is traveling at 24m/s before it hits a 18m patch of mud with a 1.7 x 10^4 net horizontal resistive force. What is the cars speed as it leaves the mud patch?

Homework Equations


Change in Uint= fd
KE= 1/2mv^2
W= Fd

The Attempt at a Solution


1/2mv^2 = f(mud on car)d
1/2(1100)v^2 = 1.7 x 10^4(18)
V= 23.6 m/s

I'm pretty sure this isn't correct, because the resistive force is too great to have the final velocity change only slightly. I feel like I might need to incorporate work or the initial velocity into my equation, but I don't really know how.

The car starts out with some initial KE due to its initial velocity. The friction "robs" energy from this initial store of KE. So find out how much KE is left after traversing the mud patch...
 
Must be the battery in the calculator. Left and right are both of the order of 300000 J so there must be a considerable slowdown.
Means your intuition is good. Both work (from resistive force) and inital velocity (*) are in your equation (assuming your KE means ΔKE), which is just fine. Some typo on the calculator ?

[edit] (*) realize I misinterpreted what you wrote. As gneill (the doctor) says: ΔKE instead of ½mv2 and you're fine.
 
Last edited:
Got it! 4.4 m/s is much more resonable. Thank you.
 

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