Car Crash Physics Involving Skid Marks

In summary, two vehicles with masses of 1858kg and 2865kg crashed at an intersection, with vehicle one heading North and vehicle two heading East. The two vehicles left the intersection stuck together and left 40.0m skid marks behind at an angle of [N67E]. 15.334m of the skid marks were on wet asphalt with a friction coefficient of 0.8, while 24.6666m were on dirt with a friction coefficient of 0.5. To determine the initial velocity of vehicle one before the crash, kinematics and dynamics equations such as Vf = Vi + 2ad, Fg = mg = weight = normal force, and fk = µkFN
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guppster
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Homework Statement



Two vehicles crash at an intersection
Mass of vehicle one: 1858kg
Mass of vehicle two: 2865Kg

Vehicle one was headed North
Vehicle two was headed East

The two vehicles stuck together in a t-bone fashion and the two vehicles left the intersection stuck together, moving at an angle of [N67E].

The vehicles left 40.0m skid marks behind.

15.334m of skid marks were on wet asphalt with a friction coefficient of 0.8.

24.6666m of skid marks were on dirt with a friction coefficient of 0.5.

Determine the initial velocity (before the crash) of vehicle one.

I am instructed to use kinematics and dynamics to solve this problem.

Homework Equations



Vf = Vi + 2ad

Fg = mg = weight = normal force

fk = µkFN

The Attempt at a Solution



I created a free body diagram but do not know how to approach the problem, any help is appreciated.
I have also searched this website for similar answers but non applied to my problem
 
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*SOLVED* //Close-Thread
 
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Imagine another student has a similar problem and googles it - google shows them, amongst others, your thread. They get here, read your question and get excited: here is someone havinf the same problem! Then they read the next post ...
 

Related to Car Crash Physics Involving Skid Marks

1. What are skid marks and how do they form in a car crash?

Skid marks are dark, visible lines left on the road surface by a vehicle's tires when it is braking or sliding. They are formed when the tires lose traction and slide across the road surface, leaving behind rubber residue.

2. How can skid marks be used to determine the speed of a vehicle involved in a car crash?

Skid marks can be used to determine the speed of a vehicle involved in a car crash by measuring their length and the coefficient of friction of the road surface. The longer the skid marks, the higher the speed of the vehicle.

3. What factors can affect the length of skid marks in a car crash?

The length of skid marks in a car crash can be affected by factors such as the speed of the vehicle, the weight of the vehicle, the condition of the tires, the type of road surface, and the weather conditions.

4. Can skid marks provide any information about the direction of travel in a car crash?

Yes, skid marks can provide information about the direction of travel in a car crash. The direction of the skid marks can indicate the direction of the vehicle's movement before the crash, as well as the direction of the impact.

5. How do skid marks help in accident reconstruction?

Skid marks play a crucial role in accident reconstruction by providing information about the speed, direction, and actions of the vehicles involved in the crash. They can also help determine the point of impact and the sequence of events leading up to the crash.

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