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Inattentive Driver A 1200 kg car moving at 5.1 m/s is initially traveling north

ID: 1988116 • Letter: I

Question

Inattentive Driver A 1200 kg car moving at 5.1 m/s is initially traveling north in the positive y direction. After completing a 90° right-hand turn to the positive x direction in 4.6 s, the inattentive operator drives into a tree, which stops the car in 360 ms.
(a) In unit-vector notation, what is the impulse on the car during the turn?
N·s i + N·s j
(b) In unit-vector notation, what is the impulse on the car during the collision?
N·s i + N·s j
(c) What is the average force that acts on the car during the turn?
N i + N j
(d) What is the average force that acts on the car during the collision?
N i + N j
(e) What is the angle between the average force in (c) and the positive x direction?
°

Explanation / Answer

Initial momentum ( before the turn) = 1200 *5.1 j N-s

Final momentum = 1200 * 5.1 i N-s

a)

Hence impulse during the turn = Change in momentum = 6120 ( i - j ) N-s

After the collision, Final momentum = 0

b)

Hence Impulse during collision = 0 - 6120 i = -6120 i Ns

c)

Average force during the turn = Impluse/time = 6120/4.6 ( i - j ) N = 1330.43 ( i - j ) N

d)

Average force during the collision = -6120/0.36 i = - 17000 i N

e)

Angle between the average force in c and x axis be

tan = -1/1 = -1

=> = -45 degrees