Question

Car A (mass 1100 kg) is stopped at a traffic light when it is rear­ended by car B(mass 1400 kg). Both cars then slide with locked wheels until the frictional force from the slick road (with a lowμk of 0.13) stops them, at distances and . What are the speeds of
(a) car A and
(b) car Bat the start of the sliding, just after the collision?
(c) Assuming that linear momentum is conserved during thecollision, find the speed of car B just before the collision.
(d) Explain why this assumption may be invalid.

Answer 1

Answer:

Part a)

$v_a = 3.94 m/s$

Part b)

$v_b = 3.35 m/s$

Part C)

$v_b = 6.44 m/s$

Part d)

Due to large magnitude of friction between road and the car the momentum conservation may not be valid here as momentum conservation is valid only when external force on the system is zero.

Explanation:

Part a)

As we know that car A moves by distance 6.1 m after collision under the frictional force

so the deceleration due to friction is given as

$a = -\frac{F_f}{m}$

$a = -\frac{\mu mg}{m}$

$a = - \mu g$

now we will have

$v_f^2 - v_i^2 = 2ad$

$0 - v_i^2 = 2(-\mu g)(6.1)$

$v_a = \sqrt{(2(0.13)(9.81)(6.1)}$

$v_a = 3.94 m/s$

Part b)

Similarly for car B the distance of stop is given as 4.4 m

so we will have

$v_b = \sqrt{2(0.13)(9.81)(4.4)}$

$v_b = 3.35 m/s$

Part C)

By momentum conservation we will have

$m_1v_{1i} = m_1v_{1f} + m_2v_{2f}$

$1400 v_b = 1100(3.94) + 1400(3.35)$

$v_b = 6.44 m/s$

Part d)

Due to large magnitude of friction between road and the car the momentum conservation may not be valid here as momentum conservation is valid only when external force on the system is zero.