Question

A car is traveling at 118 km/h when the driver sees an accident 85 m ahead and slams on the brakes. What minimum constant deceleration is required to stop the car in time to avoid a pileup

Answer 1

Answer:

The constant minimum deceleration required to stop the car in time to avoid pileup is 6.32 m/s²

Explanation:

From the question, the car is traveling at 118 km/h, that is the initial velocity, u = 118km/h

The distance between the car and the accident at the moment when the driver sees the accident is 85 m, that is s = 85 ,

Since the driver slams on the brakes and the car will come to a stop, then the final velocity, v = 0 km/h = 0 m/s

First, convert 118 km/h to m/s

118 km/h = (118 × 1000) /3600 = 32.7778 m/s

∴ u = 32.7778 m/s

Now, to determine the deceleration, a, required to stop,

From one of the equations of motion for linear motion,

v² = u² + 2as

Then

0² = (32.7778)² + 2×a×85

0 = 1074.3841 + 170a

∴ 170a = - 1074.3841

a = - 1074.3841 / 170

a = - 6.3199

a ≅ - 6.32 m/s²

Hence, the constant minimum deceleration required to stop the car in time to avoid pileup is 6.32 m/s²