Question

Set an investigator measured the skidmarks of one of the vehicles involved in an accident. The length of the skidmarks was 250 feet. Use the formula s=sqr rt (24d) To find the speed of the vehicle before the brakes were played. Round your answer to the nearest 10th. The units are in miles per hour

Answer 1

The formula for calculating the speed of the vehicle before the brakes were played is expressed as

`s\text{ = }\sqrt[]{24d}`

where

s represents the speed of the vehicle before the brakes were played

d repersents the length of the skidmark

From the information given,

d = 250 feet

We would convert 250 feet to miles

Recall, 5280 feet = 1 mile

250 feet = 250/5280 = 0.04735 miles

By substituting d = 0.04735 into the formula, we have

`\begin{gathered} s\text{ = }\sqrt[]{24*0.04735}\text{ = }\sqrt[]{1.1364} \\ s\text{ =1.06602 } \end{gathered}`

Rounding to the nearest tenth,

speed =