Question

Two automobiles with equal mass approach an intersection.  One vehicle is traveling eastward and the other vehicle is traveling northward.  The vehicles collide and stick together. After impact they travel on the road and then travel on a gravel covered shoulder until both cars stop. Only the northward bound vehicle left skid marks at an angle of 55 degrees north of east.  A police officer posted at the intersection clocked the eastward vehicle at 29 mph before impact. The northward bound car skid on the road for 25 ft and continued to skid on the gravel covered shoulder.  What is the total distance, in feet, the two cars traveled after the collision? Assume u_s = 0.96 and u_k = 0.85 for the road and u_s = 0.74 and u_k = 0.65 for the shoulder.

Answer 1