Question

Three cars (car F, car G, and car H) are moving with the same speed and slam on their brakes. The most massive car is car F, and the least massive is car H. If the tires of all three cars have identical coefficients of kinetic friction with the road surface, which car travels the longest distance to skid to a stop?

Answer 1

To solve this problem it is necessary to apply the concepts related to Normal Force, frictional force, kinematic equations of motion and Newton's second law.

From the kinematic equations of motion we know that the relationship of acceleration, velocity and distance is given by

$v_f^2=v_i^2+2ax$

Where,

$v_f =$ Final velocity

$v_i =$ Initial Velocity

a = Acceleration

x = Displacement

Acceleration can be expressed in terms of the drag coefficient by means of

$F_f = \mu_k (mg) \rightarrow$Frictional Force

$F = ma \rightarrow$ Force by Newton's second Law

Where,

m = mass

a= acceleration

$\mu_k =$ Kinetic frictional coefficient

g = Gravity

Equating both equation we have that

$F_f = F$

$\mu_k mg=ma$

$a = \mu_k g$

Therefore,

$v_f^2=v_i^2+2ax$

$0=v_i^2+2(\mu_k g)x$

Re-arrange to find x,

$x = \frac{v_i^2}{2(-\mu_k g)}$

The distance traveled by the car depends on the coefficient of kinetic friction, acceleration due to gravity and initial velocity, therefore the three cars will stop at the same distance.