How do i find the final velocity of an object?

AI Thread Summary
To find the final velocity of an object, the discussion centers on a car that took 0.35 seconds to stop after a crash, weighing 975 kg and experiencing a force of 25,000 N. The initial confusion involved calculating momentum and understanding that the final velocity is zero after stopping. The correct approach involves using the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration to determine deceleration, which is calculated as 25.6 m/s². By applying kinematic equations, the initial velocity was found to be approximately 9.0 m/s. Ultimately, the participant clarified their understanding of momentum and the calculations involved in determining the initial velocity before the impact.
Aldo
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THE VELOCITY BEFORE IT HIT THE TREE* typo
1. Homework Statement

the car took 0.35 sec to stop
it weighs 975kg
the force on the car during the crash was 25,000

The Attempt at a Solution


i think i may have found impulse but don't know how to go from there
 
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The car stopped at the end, which means finally it wasn't moving!
 
oopsies i meant before it hit the tree, small typo :O
 
Well knowing that the car will come to a stop, this means you know it's final velocity ##v=0##
How should you construct your flow of equations that links force to a change in velocity ##\delta v##?
 
i did: time x force =+ J change in momentum which is 8750 so does that mean the initial velocity is 8750?
 
Well, that is wrong because 8750 is just the change in momentum not the velocity.
What is momentum defined as?
 
8750 divided by the wight 975 would be 8.9 or so but i think that's incorrect for some reason :/
 
Well how I interpreted the question is taking 2 rigid objects without any elasticity in its collision.
So if the 25kN is constantly felt by the car throughout the entire period it's decelerating then its deceleration is simply ##F/m## which amounts to 25.6 ##m/s^2##
Then just using simple kinematics the initial velocity is just ##v=at## which will give the 9.0m/s

But if you're saying it's wrong then I suspect that the force given may be the total force experienced by the car throughout the course of its crash which is equivalent to its impulse. Then that'll be different.

Yet again I might be wrong, I tend to misunderstand questions so pardon me if I did so.
 
this is high school physics, not too complex, i think this is correct as most of the class is freshmen,its pretty easy we only use 2 equations as well. Thank You very much though!
 
  • #10
Oh I see if that's the case I hope you understood how the solution works! Cheerio
 
  • #11
zexxa said:
Oh I see if that's the case I hope you understood how the solution works! Cheerio
well i figured it out after i took a second look at my notes when you pointed out the definition of momentum, thanks for being so helpful :D.
 
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