# Can someone help me with this collision mechanics problem please?

• May 21st 2010, 03:25 PM
s3a
Can someone help me with this collision mechanics problem please?
Here is the question:
You are the juror of a case in - Anonymous - fLw7zWYD - Pastebin.com

I get (a) 43.67m/s but for (b) I am completely thrown off by the instantaneous acceleration. I've been trying to do (b) for like a week so it would be greatly appreciated if someone could show me their work.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!
• May 21st 2010, 03:35 PM
DrDank
Quote:

Originally Posted by s3a
Here is the question:
You are the juror of a case in - Anonymous - fLw7zWYD - Pastebin.com

I get (a) 43.67m/s but for (b) I am completely thrown off by the instantaneous acceleration. I've been trying to do (b) for like a week so it would be greatly appreciated if someone could show me their work.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

(b) Estimate the instantaneous acceleration of the sports car during the actual collision if the colliding cars reach the same final speed after collapsing a combined total distance of 1.0 m.

$v_f^2-v_o^2=2a\Delta x$

$a=\frac{v_f^2-v_o^2}{2\Delta x}$

$a=\frac{(43.67)^2-(0)^2}{2(1)}$
• May 21st 2010, 03:38 PM
s3a
• May 21st 2010, 03:56 PM
DrDank
Quote:

Originally Posted by s3a
I think that's because $v_f$ is not 0. Because after the collision they slide together.