Question

A car has a mass of 2000 kg which was travelling east but now has collided with truck with mass of 2500 kg which was travelling north.

After the collision we see that the cars are stuck together and have slid 7.7 meters northeast at a 40 degree angle.

The car driver claims the accident happened because the truck was speeding; the truck driver claims the car was speeding. The posted speed limit is 35 miles/hour.

Determine from the location of the vehicles what the total speed of the car+truck system was after the collision. Assume a coefficient of kinetic friction of µk = 0.90 between the car tire and road surfaces

Now determine the speeds of the car and truck before the collision, assuming it was an inelastic collision. Based on these values, was either car speeding? Who is telling the truth?

Answer 1

Both are lying because, both had initial speed more than limit speed 35 mi/h = 35×1.6Km/hr

= 56Km/hr .