Physics Applied to Traffic Forensics
MPH
20
How fast was the car going when it went
off the road?
Summary (for teachers):
• Word problems are difficult for students. Use a proven methodology to help them
understand.
• Start with a diagram, showing what is known (given) and what is needed to solve the
problem. Give them partial credit for this effort.
• Use the ‘equations and unknowns’ method to ‘describe’ the problem. This step can feel
laborious initially, but is a tried and true process. I continue to use this method in my
engineering work long after my days teaching physics.
• Select the right physics equations and write down the units in any equation where
numbers are entered. This is 100% required and is the key to identifying mistakes due to
algebra or mixing units. This method still serves me well today to solve real-life
engineering problems.
• If the units work out for the answer, there is a 99% chance the answer is correct. The
rest is using a calculator and the correct algebra methodology (also a problem for
students, so I show all steps in this example).
• There are explanatory notes below each slide in this example “Problem”.
If you like this work, please look for more at: http://
www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Hank-Brittain
Always feel free to ask questions, provide feedback and make suggestions for other posts.
Thanks,
- Hank
Problem Statement:
Ashley McSpeedy was on his way to dinner at his parents estate
when he rounded a sharp, level curve in a 20 mph zone and
suddenly found himself off the road and airborne. Luckily he was
not hurt, but his BMW Z8 was totaled.
Arriving on the scene, you find the car landed 20 meters from the
edge of the road, with a 5 meter drop. Using your knowledge of
physics, calculate how fast the car was going when it left the
road. When the Highway Patrol arrives, they will ask you to
convert this number to MPH (miles per hour) to determine if
Ashley was speeding and should be ticketed.
Problem Diagram: Nomenclature:
vx = velocity in the x-direction, in
meters/second (m/s)
y = the distance the car fell, in
meters (m)
vx = ? m/s x = the distance the car travelled
in the x-direction in meters (m)
y=5m
x = 20 m
Problem Description:
1. We need a relationship between the x-component of velocity,
vx, and distance, x.
x
vx 1 eq. 2 unk. (vx, t)
t
In this equation, we know x (20 m), but we do not know what vx and t are.
We have 1 equation with two unknowns.
2. We need a relationship between time, t, and height, y.
2
y gt1
2
2 eq. 2 unk.
In this equation, we know y (5 m) and we know g (acceleration due to
gravity, 9.8 m/s2); t (time) has already been counted as an unknown in the
1st equation.
With 2 equations and 2 unknowns, the problem is said to be ‘described’.
Problem Solution (Part 1):
1. We use equation 2 to solve for time, t
2
The original
equation:
y gt
1
2
Multiply both 2 2
y gt
1 2 Note that the 2’s and g’s cancel
sides by 2/g: g g 2 on the right-hand side
2y 2
This leaves: t
g
2y 25 m 10 s 2
Thus: t 2 1.01 sec
g 9.8 m/s 9.8
Problem Note:
With an initial velocity of zero in the y direction, the car would take the same
amount of time to hit the ground no matter if it was simply dropped 5 m or
went off the road and fell 5 m.
vx = ? m/s vyo = 0 m/s
y=5m t 1.01 sec
x = 20 m
Problem Solution (Part 2):
2. Using our solution for time, t, and substituting into equation 2
x 20 m
v 19.8 m/s
t 1.01sec
Problem Solution (Part 3):
3. The Highway Patrol arrives and asks us to convert our
calculations to miles per hour (MPH).
We need to convert meters (m) to miles, and seconds (s) to
hours (H):
m 1 mile 3600 s
19.8 44.29 MPH
s 1,609.344 m hr
It looks like Ashley gets a
ticket for speeding.
Problem Solution (Part 3 extra):
3. The Highway Patrol arrives and asks us to convert our
calculations to miles per hour (MPH).
We need to convert meters (m) to miles, and seconds (s) to
hours (H). Sometimes we may not have direct conversions:
m 100 cm 1in ft mile 3600 s
19.8
s m 2.54 cm 12 in 5280 ft hr
44.29 MPH
It looks like Ashley gets a
ticket for speeding.
