An engineer in a locomotive sees a car stuck on the track at a railroad crossing in front of the train. When the engineer first sees the car, the locomotive is 300 m from the crossing and its speed is 18 m/s. If the engineer’s reaction time is 0.45 s, what should be the magnitude of the minimum deceleration to avoid an accident? Answer in units of m/s 2 .

Respuesta :

Answer:

- 0.56 m/s 2

Explanation:

To calculate the magnitude of deceleration to avoid the collision

distance = 300 m

initial speed = 18 m/s

reaction time ( t ) = 0.45 s

first calculate the distance traveled by the engineer/train during his reaction time

D₁ = initial speed * reaction time = 18 * 0.45 = 8.1 m

Then the remaining distance before impact between the car and Train would be

= distance - distance traveled during reaction time

= 300 m - 8.1 m = 291.9 m

from the equation of motion of objects

V² = U² + 2ax  (equation 1)

To avoid impact the final velocity( v )  would be ( 0 )

u = initial speed ( 18 m/s )

a = acceleration/deceleration ( ? )

x = remaining distance before collision ( 291.9 m )

hence equation 1 becomes

a = [tex]-\frac{18^{2} }{2*291.9}[/tex]   =  - [tex]\frac{324}{583.8}[/tex]  = - 0.56 m/s 2

note: the answer is in negative because the Locomotive is decelerating and not accelerating

The magnitude of the minimum deceleration needed to avoid the accident is –0.55 m/s²

To solve the question given above, we'll begin by calculating the distance travelled during the reaction time. This can be obtained as follow:

Speed = 18 m/s

Time = 0.45 s

Distance =?

Speed = distance / time

18 = distance / 0.45

Cross multiply

Distance = 18 × 0.45

Distance = 8.1 m

Thus, the engineer travelled a distance of 8.1 m during the reaction time.

Next, we shall the distance between the engineer and the car. This can be obtained as follow:

Total distance = 300 m

Distance during the reaction time = 8.1 m

Distance between the engineer and the car =?

Distance between the engineer and the car = (Total distance) – (Distance during the reaction time)

= 300 – 8.1

Distance between the engineer and the car = 291.9 m

Finally, we shall determine the magnitude of the deceleration needed to avoid the accident. This can be obtained as follow:

Initial velocity (u) = 18 m/s

Final velocity (v) = 0 m/s

Distance (s) = 291.9 m

Deceleration (a) =?

v² = u² + 2as

0² = 18² + (2 × a × 291.9)

0 = 324 + 583.8a

Collect like terms

0 – 324 = 583.8a

–324 = 583.8a

Divide both side by 583.8

a = –324 / 583.8

a = –0.55 m/s²

Therefore, the magnitude of the deceleration needed to avoid the accident is –0.55 m/s²

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