In: Physics
Your accident reconstruction team has been hired by the local police to analyze the following accident. A careless driver rear-ended a car that was halted at a stop sign. Just before impact, the driver slammed on his brakes, locking the wheels. The driver of the struck car had his foot solidly on the brake pedal, locking his brakes. The mass of the struck car was 900 kg, and that the initially moving vehicle was 1200 kg. On collision, the bumpers of the two cars meshed. Police determine from the skid marks that after the collision the two cars moved 0.76 m together. Tests revealed that the coefficient of kinetic friction between the tires and pavement was 0.92. The driver of the moving car claims that he was traveling at less than 15 km/h as he approached the intersection. Is he telling the truth?