Was the Driver Really Traveling Under 15 km/hr?

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SUMMARY

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a collision between two cars, where the driver of the moving car claims to have been traveling under 15 km/hr. The mass of the struck car is 900 kg, and the moving car is 1200 kg. After the collision, both cars moved 0.76 meters together, with a kinetic friction coefficient of 0.92. By applying the conservation of momentum and energy equations, the calculated speed of the moving car just after the collision is determined to be 23.3 km/hr, confirming that the driver's claim is false.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's laws of motion
  • Familiarity with the concepts of momentum and kinetic energy
  • Knowledge of friction coefficients and their application in physics
  • Ability to convert units between meters and kilometers
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the conservation of momentum in inelastic collisions
  • Learn about kinetic energy calculations in collision scenarios
  • Explore the implications of friction coefficients in real-world applications
  • Practice unit conversion techniques, especially in physics contexts
USEFUL FOR

Students studying physics, particularly those focusing on mechanics and collision problems, as well as educators looking for practical examples of momentum and energy conservation in real-life scenarios.

KrispyKrunch
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Hey there! So, I've got this sample exam that I'm working my way through, and I'm stuck on a few questions, but this one is particularly frustrating me:

A careless driver rear-ends a car that is stopped at an intersection. Just before the collision, the driver slams on his brakes, locking the wheels. The mass of the struck car also has his foot on the brake pedal, locking the wheels. The mass of the struck car is 900kg, and that of the initially moving car is 1200Kg. On collision, the bumpers of the two cars mesh. Police determines from skid marks that after the collision the two cars moved 0.76metres together, straight into the intersection. Tests revealed that the frictional coefficient of kinetic friction between the tires and pavement was 0.92. The driver of the moving car claims that he was traveling less than 15 km/hr as he approached the intersection. Is he telling the truth? Hint find the speed of the cars just after the collision first.

(Possible?) Equations:

fkinetic = (µkinetic)(n)
(µkinetic)=kinetic friction coefficient
n= m*g

m1 v1i + m2 v2i = m1 v1f + m2 v2f
and
1/2 m1 v1i2 + 1/2 m2 v2i2 = 1/2 m1 v1f2 +1/2 m2 v2f2
(am I missing any equations ?)


Ok, so to start, I don't know how to get the speed? I'm assuming you would first change the meters into Km, but I honestly don't know how to get the speed! I know that once I get the initial velocity, I can use the elastic collision formula to figure out the final velocity(or is it the other way around?) If you could point me in the right direction that would be fantastic! Thanks!
 
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Also, I know that the answer is supposed to be 23.3km/hr, and that the driver was not telling the truth.
 

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