Final answer:
To determine whether to contest a speeding ticket based on skid marks and a coefficient of friction, one can calculate the car's initial velocity at the start of braking and compare it to the speed limit.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves understanding the relationship between velocity, friction, and distance during the braking of a car. In the scenario presented, if a car left a skid mark of 30.5 meters after slamming on the brakes, the length of the skid mark can be used to estimate the car's speed prior to braking. To determine whether you should fight the speeding ticket in court, calculations must be made using the provided coefficient of friction and the length of the skid mark. The equation v^2 = 2×μ×g×d can be used to find the initial velocity, where v is the initial velocity, μ is the coefficient of friction, g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s^2), and d is the length of the skid mark.
The calculations must use the equation for velocity in relation to skid marks, taking into account the friction coefficient and gravity.
To ascertain if the speed was over the limit, it is essential to solve the equation for v using the given values (μ=0.55 and d=30.5m) and compare it to the posted speed limit of 13.4 m/s (30 mph). If the calculation shows a speed less than or equal to 13.4 m/s, then you have grounds to contest the ticket. On the other hand, if the calculated speed is greater than 13.4 m/s, the police officer's decision to issue a ticket was justified.