Phy120 Assignment Case Study Using Mechanics To Determine Th

Phy120 Assignment Case Study Using Mechanics To Determine The Cause

Calculate the acceleration rate of the Jeep Grand Cherokee in feet/second/second or ft/s2. Note: you’ll need to see the assignment text on Canvas to find information you’ll need about acceleration data of the Jeep. To figure out which driver’s version of the accident to believe, it will help to know how far Driver 1 would go in reaching the speed of 50 mph at maximum acceleration. Then we can see if driver 2 would have had enough distance to come to a stop after passing this point.

Follow the next steps to determine this. 2. Calculate how much time Driver 1 would take to reach 50 mph (73.3 ft/s) while accelerating at the rate determined in part 1. Remember that the acceleration rate represents how much the speed increases each second. See page 32 of the text for information on how to do this.

3. Next, we need to figure out how far the car would travel while accelerating at this rate (part 1) for this amount of time (part 2). You have the data you need. Find the right equation and solve. If you get stuck, ask for help before the assignment is overdue. See page 33 for an example of how to do this.

4. Now it’s time to evaluate the two driver's stories. If driver 2 passed driver 1 after driver 1 accelerated to 50 mph (73.3 ft/s), he would have to have started his deceleration farther down the road from the intersection than the distance calculated in part 3. Add the estimated stopping distance for driver 2’s car (see the assignment text for this datum) to the result of part 3 above. What is this distance?

5. Which driver’s account do you believe and why? Remember to save your document with your answer before uploading. Make sure you upload to the correct assignment and do so before the due date. Double check that all your answers are reasonable and have correct units. If you are asked to calculate an amount of time, the units should be in seconds, for example. If you are stuck on how to complete any part of this assignment, ask for help after reviewing the sections of the text referred to above.

Paper For Above instruction

This case study involves analyzing vehicular accident data through the application of mechanics principles to determine the most probable causation scenario. The key focus centers around calculating acceleration, assessing distance traveled during acceleration, and evaluating driver accounts based on these physics calculations. By applying fundamental equations of motion, we can infer which driver’s narrative aligns better with the physical evidence present at the scene of the accident.

To commence, it is essential to ascertain the acceleration rate of the Jeep Grand Cherokee involved in the incident. Utilizing known data from the assignment, such as initial and final velocities and time, the acceleration can be calculated using the equation:

acceleration (a) = (v - v₀) / t

where v is the final velocity, v₀ the initial velocity, and t the time taken. Given the initial data, for example, acceleration in ft/s^2, and substituting the respective values, we can quantify the acceleration rate. This step is crucial, as it underpins subsequent calculations concerning distance and timing.

Following this, the next step involves determining how long it would take Driver 1 to accelerate from rest to 50 mph, which is equivalent to approximately 73.3 ft/s. This is achieved by rearranging the same equation:

t = (v - v₀) / a

Assuming initial speed v₀ = 0, the time can be directly estimated, provided the acceleration rate calculated earlier.

The third calculation pertains to the distance traveled during this acceleration period. Employing the equation for displacement under constant acceleration:

d = v₀ t + ½ a t^2

where, with initial velocity v₀ = 0, the displacement simplifies to:

d = ½ a t^2

This calculation yields the distance Driver 1 would cover while reaching 50 mph, critical for evaluating the likelihood of certain accident scenarios.

Finally, an evaluation of the drivers’ stories involves comparing the actual stopping distances, including reaction and deceleration distances, with the calculated distances. If Driver 2 claims to have overtaken Driver 1 after Driver 1 accelerated to 50 mph, then Driver 2’s starting point must be beyond the sum of Driver 1’s traveled distance plus Driver 2’s stopping distance. Adding this to the previous distance provides a threshold for determining which account is physically plausible.

In conclusion, by applying kinematic equations and physically realistic parameters, we can analyze the consistency of each driver’s account. The scenario that aligns more closely with these physics calculations is deemed more credible. This method exemplifies how mechanics can serve as an objective tool in accident reconstruction, leading to informed conclusions about causality.

References

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