The coefficient of kinetic friction between the tires of a car and a horizontal road surface is 0.52. If the car is traveling at an initial speed of 25 m/s, and then slams on the breaks so the car skids straight ahead to a stop, how far does the car skid?

The car skids in a distance of 61.275 meters.

Explanation:

Since the only force exerted on the car is the kinetic friction between the car and the horizontal road, deceleration of the vehicle (), measured in meters per square second, is determined by the following expression:

(1)

Where:

- Coefficient of kinetic friction, no unit.

- Gravitational acceleration, measured in meters per square second.

If we know that and , then the net deceleration of the vehicle is:

The distance covered by the car is finally calculated by this kinematic expression:

(2)

Where:

, - Initial and final speed, measured in meters per second.

- Net deceleration, measured in meters per square second.

If we know that , and , then the distance covered by the car is:

The car skids in a distance of 61.275 meters.

this would be about 43%