A car traveling at 32.4 m/s skids to a stop in 4.55 s. Determine the skidding distance of the car (assume uniform acceleration).

x = 73.71 [m]

Explanation:

In order to solve this problem we must use two formulas of kinematics. It is important to make it clear that these formulate are for uniformly accelerated motion, i.e. with constant acceleration.

where:

Vf = fnal velocity = 0

Vi = initial velocity = 32.4 [m/s]

t = time = 4,55 [s]

a = acceleration or desacceleration [m/s^2]

0 = 32.4 - (a*4.55)

a = 7.12 [m/s^2]

Note: it is important to clarify that the negative sign in the above equation is because the car stops and decreases its speed to zero, thus its final velocity is equal to zero.

Now using the following equation:

where:

xo = initial distance = 0

x = final distance [m]

Therefore we have:

x = 0 + (32.4*4.55) - (0.5*7.12*4.55^2)

x = 73.71 [m]