Question

A driver is traveling at 90 km/h down a 3% grade on good, wet pavement. An accident

investigation team noted that braking skid marks started 75m before a parked car was
hit at an estimated 45 km/h. Ignoring air resistance, calculate the theoretical friction
coefficient.

Answer 1

0.35

Step-by-step explanation:

We resolve the component of the weight of the car along and perpendicular to the grade. We have mgsinФ and mgcosФ where Ф = angle of grade.

Now, the frictional force f = μN = μmgcosФ where μ = coefficient of friction

So, the net force along the grade is F = mgsinФ - μmgcosФ.

The work done by this force moving a distance, d along the grade is

W = (mgsinФ - μmgcosФ)d

This work equals the change in kinetic energy of the car. So ΔK = 1/2m(v₂² - v₁²) = W = (mgsinФ - μmgcosФ)d

1/2m(v₂² - v₁²) = (mgsinФ - μmgcosФ)d

1/2(v₂² - v₁²) = (gsinФ - μgcosФ)d

(v₂² - v₁²)/2d = (gsinФ - μgcosФ)

dividing through by gcosФ, we have

(v₂² - v₁²)/2dgcosФ = (gsinФ/gcosФ) - μgcosФ/gcosФ

(v₂² - v₁²)/2dgcosФ = tanФ - μ

μ = tanФ - (v₂² - v₁²)/2dgcosФ

given that tanФ = 3% = 3/100 and 1 + tan²Ф = 1/cos²Ф, cosФ = 1/(√1 + tan²Ф) = 1/(√1 + (3/100)²) = 1/(√1 + (9/10000)) = 1/(√10000 + 9/10000) = 1/√(10009/10000) = 100/√10009 = 100/100.05 = 0.9995.

Also, given that v₁ = 90 km/h = 90 × 1000/3600 m/s = 25 m/s and v₂ = 45 km/h = 45 × 1000/3600 m/s = 12.5 m/s, d = 75 m and g = 9.8 m/s².

So, substituting the values of the variables into the equation, we have

μ = tanФ - (v₂² - v₁²)/2dgcosФ

μ = 3/100 - ((12.5 m/s)² - (25 m/s)²)/(2 × 75 m × 9.8 m/s² × 0.9995)

μ = 3/100 - ((156.25 m/s)² - (625 m/s)²)/1,469.265 m²/s²

μ = 3/100 - (-468.75 m²/s²)/1,469.265 m²/s²

μ = 3/100 + 468.75 m²/s²/1,469.265 m²/s²

μ = 0.03 + 0.32

μ = 0.35

So, theoretical friction coefficient is 0.35