Math  /  Algebra

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A car is traveling at 112 km/h112 \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{h} when the driver sees an accident 80 m ahead and slams on the brakes. What minimum constant deceleration is required to stop the car in time to avoid a pileup? (Round your answer to two decimal places.)

Studdy Solution

STEP 1

What is this asking? How hard does a driver need to brake to avoid hitting something 80 meters ahead while driving at 112 km/h? Watch out! The units are different!
We've got kilometers per hour and meters.
Mixing units is a recipe for disaster!

STEP 2

1. Convert Units
2. Set Up the Equation
3. Solve for Deceleration

STEP 3

Alright, let's get those units matching!
We need to convert the speed from km/h to m/s.
Why? Because the distance is given in meters.
Consistency is key!

STEP 4

We know that 1 km is equal to 1000 m, and 1 hour is equal to 3600 seconds.
So, to convert 112 km/h to m/s, we **multiply** by 1000 m/km and **divide** by 3600 s/h.
It's like magic!

STEP 5

112kmh1000 m1 km1 h3600 s=11210003600ms=112036ms31.11ms112 \frac{\text{km}}{\text{h}} \cdot \frac{1000 \text{ m}}{1 \text{ km}} \cdot \frac{1 \text{ h}}{3600 \text{ s}} = \frac{112 \cdot 1000}{3600} \frac{\text{m}}{\text{s}} = \frac{1120}{36} \frac{\text{m}}{\text{s}} \approx 31.11 \frac{\text{m}}{\text{s}}

STEP 6

Boom! Our **initial velocity**, v0v_0, is approximately 31.1131.11 m/s.
Much better!

STEP 7

We're dealing with constant deceleration, which means constant acceleration in the opposite direction of motion.
We can use this handy-dandy equation of motion:

STEP 8

v2=v02+2adv^2 = v_0^2 + 2 \cdot a \cdot d

STEP 9

Where: vv is the **final velocity** (which is 0 m/s since we want to stop), v0v_0 is the **initial velocity** (that's our 31.1131.11 m/s), aa is the **acceleration** (which is what we're looking for, our deceleration will be a-a), and dd is the **distance** (80 m).

STEP 10

Let's plug in what we know!

STEP 11

02=(31.11)2+2a800^2 = (31.11)^2 + 2 \cdot a \cdot 80

STEP 12

Now, we **solve for** aa:

STEP 13

0=967.8321+160a0 = 967.8321 + 160a 967.8321=160a-967.8321 = 160a a=967.8321160a = \frac{-967.8321}{160}a6.05ms2a \approx -6.05 \frac{\text{m}}{\text{s}^2}

STEP 14

Since we're looking for deceleration, we take the positive value.
So, the minimum constant deceleration required is approximately 6.056.05 m/s².

STEP 15

The minimum constant deceleration required to stop the car in time is approximately **6.056.05 m/s²**.

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