How to Calculate if a Car Will Stop in Time?

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To determine if the car can stop in time, the key calculations involve the car's deceleration and stopping distance. The car, weighing 920 kg and traveling at 125 km/h, experiences a frictional force of 8600 N. The calculated deceleration is approximately -0.935 m/s², leading to a stopping distance of about 2.11 meters. This distance is significantly less than the 65 meters available, indicating that the driver can stop in time before hitting the barrier. Using energy principles, the stopping distance can also be confirmed by comparing the initial kinetic energy to the work done by friction.
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Hey... I need help on a question i know how to calculate the decceleration of the truck in the problem below but I am not completely sure about how you would be able to find the conclusion to this question? Help would be appreiated o:)

A 920 kg car is 65m from a concrete barrier traveling at 125 km/h, when the driver notices and slams on the breaks. The fritional force acting on the car is 8600N. Is the driver able to stop the car in time? :eek:

so this is what i got:M= 920kg
D=65m
V1=125 km/h
F(friction)=8600N
A=?
v1=0

F(net)=ma
-F(friction)=ma
A=-F(fric..)
=-0.935 m/s ^2V2^2=V1^2 + 2a*∆d

Rearranged the equation:
∆d= V2^2/2a∆d - square of V1


Then when i sub in the numbers and solve the equation I conclude that the car stops 2.11 meters away from the concrete barrier...but I am not sure if i did this right and if any part of this equation doesn't make sense ill try to explain...
 
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Eddard said:
Hey... I need help on a question i know how to calculate the decceleration of the truck in the problem below but I am not completely sure about how you would be able to find the conclusion to this question? Help would be appreiated o:)

A 920 kg car is 65m from a concrete barrier traveling at 125 km/h, when the driver notices and slams on the breaks. The fritional force acting on the car is 8600N. Is the driver able to stop the car in time? :eek:
I am not sure what you are doing here. The easiest way to do this is to use energy. The force x stopping distance must equal the initial kinetic energy of the truck. If the stopping distance is greater than 65 m then it hits the wall.

Since Fd = KE, the stopping distance is: d = KE/F

Work that out and see if d is less than 65 m.

AM
 

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