How Far Do Fred and Brutus Slide?

How far do Fred and Brutus slide after the collision?

After the collision, how does the coefficient of kinetic friction affect the sliding distance of Fred and Brutus?

Answer:

After the collision between Fred and Brutus, they will slide approximately 5.30 meters. The coefficient of kinetic friction plays a crucial role in determining the sliding distance of the two individuals.

To determine the sliding distance of Fred and Brutus after the collision, we first need to consider the conservation of momentum. By calculating the velocity of the combined system using the given masses and velocities, we found that they move at a velocity of 4.58 m/s post-collision.

Next, we can utilize the coefficient of kinetic friction to calculate the force of friction acting on Fred and Brutus. This force opposes the motion and ultimately determines how far they will slide. Considering the total mass of the system and the acceleration due to the force of friction, we calculated an acceleration of 1.97 m/s^2.

Finally, we can use the formula d = v^2 / (2 * a) to find the sliding distance. After substitution, we obtain a sliding distance of 5.30 meters for Fred and Brutus post-collision.