Question

Ultimately, I'm just wondering how I'd get the velocities of the cars right before impact, but here's everything for full context: The sketch of the accident scene is shown above. Main Street, a thoroughfare, has a 45-mile per hour speed limit. State Street also has a 45-mile per hour limit, but has a stop sign on either side of the road. Vehicle 2, which weighs 5800 lbs., skidded for 24 feet before coming to a stop next to the utility pole, marked Dec #20. Vehicle 1, which weighs 2060 lbs., showed no skid marks after the impact and came to a rest next to the house on the corner. Looking at the impact areas of the cars, it was clear to Lt. Henry that the cars impacted at right angles, hitting the front right bumper of vehicle 2 and the front left bumper of vehicle 1. After impact, they initially were traveling in the same direction. Lt. Henry noted that the weather was clear and sunny, 69o and the roadway was dry. Lt. Henry used a drag sled to determine that the coefficient of friction between the tires and road was 0.60. He can't use the drag sled to determine the coefficient of friction between the tires of vehicle 1 as they roll over the roadway and grass. Does he need this information? What procedure can he use to find out this information? Using your outlined procedures, find the velocities of the two vehicles just prior to impact and estimate the coefficient of friction between the rolling tires of vehicle 1 and the roadway and grass. Be sure to state any assumptions that you make and justify them. During the collision, which vehicle delivered the greater force of impact? Justify your reasoning using physics principles. How can Lt. Henry determine the speeds of both vehicles just before they applied their brakes? What further information will he need? Lt. Henry measured the skid marks made by both vehicles prior to impact. The skid marks for vehicle 1 were 20 feet in length and for vehicle 2 were 7 feet in length. How fast were both cars going just prior to hitting their brakes? Which driver do you recommend John Henry cite in the accident? Justify your answer, since Lt. Henry will need to make an airtight case in court.

Ultimately, I'm just wondering how I'd get the velocities of the cars right before impact, but here's everything for full context:

The sketch of the accident scene is shown above. Main Street, a thoroughfare, has a 45-mile per hour speed limit. State Street also has a 45-mile per hour limit, but has a stop sign on either side of the road. Vehicle 2, which weighs 5800 lbs., skidded for 24 feet before coming to a stop next to the utility pole, marked Dec #20. Vehicle 1, which weighs 2060 lbs., showed no skid marks after the impact and came to a rest next to the house on the corner. Looking at the impact areas of the cars, it was clear to Lt. Henry that the cars impacted at right angles, hitting the front right bumper of vehicle 2 and the front left bumper of vehicle 1. After impact, they initially were traveling in the same direction. Lt. Henry noted that the weather was clear and sunny, 69o and the roadway was dry.
Lt. Henry used a drag sled to determine that the coefficient of friction between the tires and road was 0.60. He can't use the drag sled to determine the coefficient of friction between the tires of vehicle 1 as they roll over the roadway and grass. Does he need this information? What procedure can he use to find out this information?

Using your outlined procedures, find the velocities of the two vehicles just prior to impact and estimate the coefficient of friction between the rolling tires of vehicle 1 and the roadway and grass. Be sure to state any assumptions that you make and justify them.

During the collision, which vehicle delivered the greater force of impact? Justify your reasoning using physics principles.

How can Lt. Henry determine the speeds of both vehicles just before they applied their brakes? What further information will he need?

Lt. Henry measured the skid marks made by both vehicles prior to impact. The skid marks for vehicle 1 were 20 feet in length and for vehicle 2 were 7 feet in length. How fast were both cars going just prior to hitting their brakes?

Which driver do you recommend John Henry cite in the accident? Justify your answer, since Lt. Henry will need to make an airtight case in court.