Student’s Guide

Collision Investigation (1-D)

SPVM File # 990827-32
Camil Cyr
Collège de Maisonneuve

Adaptation: Nanouk Paré

John Abbott College
Collision Investigation (1-D)
SPVM File # 990827-32
Context

You are just starting a summer job for Montreal Police (SPVM) collision investigators. You assist the investigators
in order to determine, as accurately as possible, the circumstances surrounding collisions (initial velocity of the
vehicles involved, direction vehicles were heading, etc.) in order to take action against drivers at fault under the
Criminal Code (dangerous driving causing death or other charges). The job is demanding and your help is highly
appreciated.

The weather is great, it’s July, and you

arrive at the station as your boss tells
you, “Hey, Rookie, hurry over to Notre-
Dame Street. There has been an accident
involving two cars. There are people
injured.” Listening only to your courage,
you rush (although carefully) to the scene
of the accident. Your job is to take
photos of the vehicles as they are
positioned, and take a certain number of
measurements, including the length of
the skid marks and layout of the debris.
You immediately draw the following
sketch of the accident and include a few
common measurements.

Your findings are as follows:

• Numerous debris (broken glass, plastic, etc.) were found at a distance of 12.25 m from the cars;
• The two cars stuck together and there are skid marks over 12.25 m;
• There are also skid marks over a distance of 30 m before the debris;
• The posted speed limit on this street is 70 km/h;
• Other data: m1 = 2 674 kg, m2 = 1 100 kg.

PBL/Student’s Guide - Collision Investigation (1-D) / SPVM File # 990827-32 2

1-D Collision Investigation (Part 1)

A hurried investigator yells out, “Hey, Rookie, make yourself useful! Bring the friction block and spring
scale, and take the measurements needed to calculate the pavement’s coefficient of friction.” Confused, but very
eager, you take the heavy iron friction block, covered with tire treads, and the spring scale.

• Which parameters can be obtained by using the friction block and spring scale?
How much force is needed to push the block when the tires are touching the floor
• Based on this information about the method used, find an equation that allows you to determine the
pavement’s coefficient of friction.
Ff=N x u

Complete the three-step cycle to get a clear picture of what we know, what we need to know, and the summary.

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Three-Step Cycle

List all the revelant information you have gathered from the problem. Based on this information, state
what you need to know to solve the problem. As new information comes in, you will want to summarize and update
the relevant information you have gathered and ask new questions.

What we know What we need to know Summary

• Numerous debris (broken • what speed was the The vehicle was speeding and
glass, plastic, etc.) were yellow car going at violated the code of dangerous
found at a distance of and did they violate driving causing bodily harm
12.25 m from the cars; the criminal code of
• The two cars stuck
dangerous driving
together and there are skid
marks over 12.25 m;
causing bodily harm
• There are also skid marks
over a distance of 30 m
before the debris;
• The posted speed limit on
this street is 70 km/h;
• Other data: m1 = 2 674 kg,
m2 = 1 100 kg.

• Fv = 88,2 N and
Fh = 75,8 N
• the red car was at the stop
when the collision
occurred

List the following:

Please note: You must complete the Part 1 before proceeding to the Part 2.

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1-D Collision Investigation (Part 2)

Here are the two measurements (Fv: vertical force, Fh: horizontal force) that you obtain from the friction
block and spring scale. They will enable you to determine the pavement’s coefficient of friction.

Fv = 88.2 N and Fh = 75.8 N

The investigator returns to you and says, “The two drivers aren’t saying much. The one in the small red car was sent
to the hospital. The driver in the yellow car is still discussing what happened, but nothing is clear!” Since you are
always willing to help, you answer, “How can I help you, Sir?” The investigator’s face lights up when he hears your
proposition, “Well, it’s that…, you see, we must be sure, beyond any doubt, that dangerous driving was involved…
the judge needs evidence. We must gather all the necessary evidence. All I’m sure of is that, based on the skid
marks, the red car was at the stop when the collision occurred. This a perfect job for an intern! Get to work! I want a
full report ASAP”. Knowing that this information will enable the Crown prosecutor to decide whether the driver will
be charged under Section 249 (3), Dangerous driving causing bodily harm, of the Criminal Code, you take your role
very seriously and immediately get to work.

Considering that the accident occurred in a 70km/h zone, what do you suggest to your superior? Press charges for
dangerous driving or not? If the Crown prosecutor asked you to testify in court, how would you clearly explain to
the judge and jury the method used to determine the speed of the driver at fault?

M1=2674 m2=1100 m total=3774kg m total normal force=3774 x 9.8=36985.2

M1=2674 x 9.8=26205.2 m2=1100 x 9.8=10780
Coefficient of friction=N x u Vertical force=horizontal x u 75.8=88.2 x u u=0.8594
force=n x u force=36985.2*0.8594 force=31785.08N
Force=m x a 31785.08=3774*a a=-8.422m/s^2

Vf^2=vi^2+2a deltax
0^0=vi^2+2(-8.422) x 12.5 0=vi^2-16.844 x 12.5 0=vi^2-210.55
210.55=vi^2 V=14.51m/s

Momentum=velocity*mass 3774*14.51=v*2674 54760.74=v*2674

v(final of driving car)=20.47896m/s

force=n*u force=(2674*9.8)(0.8594) force=22520.748

force=m*a 22520.748=2674*a a=-8.422m/s^2

Vf^2=vi^2+2a deltax
20.47896=vi^2+2(-8.422)*30
419.38780=vi^2-505.32
924.7078=vi^2 vi=30.41m/s

m/s x 3600s/1hr x 1km/1000m =3600km/1000hr

3.6km/h x 6.9m/s=24.84 km/hr

m
∗3600 s
s
3600km/1000hr x 3.6km/h x 30.41 ∗1 km =
1 hr 3600 km
30.41 = ∗30.41
1000 m 1000 hr
109.476km/h

PBL/Student’s Guide - Collision Investigation (1-D) / SPVM File # 990827-32 5

March 14, 2022

Dear Recipient:

The driver of the car is guilty of driving 109.476km/h in relationship to the 70km/h he was
supposed to be driving. We found this by using a set of equations that led us to this answer.
To start off, the masses of both individual cars, we can use equation 1 to find the total
normal force of both cars combined(36985.2N). Next, we have to find the coefficient of
friction. To find this, we will set the vertical and horizontal force equal to each other to find
the answer(0.8594) using equation 2. Using the 3 equation, when we multiply the
coefficient and mass of the cars together, you can get the force of friction of the cars when
they collided (31785.08N). Now that we have the force and mass of both cars, we can find
the acceleration that the cars were moving at until it stopped, the answer to equation 4
being -8.422m. Now that we have all the important numbers, we can isolate the two cars to
now find the velocity and mass the driving car was going. Using equation 5, we found out
the velocity of both the cars when they hit, which was 14.51m/s. And given that, we use
equation 6 to find the final velocity of the driving car(20.47896m/s). We have the mass of
the driving car, and we found the coefficient of friction, so we use equation 7 to find the
force of the car(22520.748). Then we use equation 8 to find the acceleration of the driving
car, which is the same as the acceleration when both cars were slowing down, which is -
8.422. Then, similar to equation 5, in equation 9 we find the initial velocity of the driving
car(30.41m/s). Finally, we use equation 10 to convert m/s to m/h, giving us a final answer
of 109.476km/h. This answer means the driver is guilty of driving over 30km/h meaning
they broke the criminal code. So, the driver should be prosecuted for speeding and creating
a crash, that caused bodily injury and harm to another driver on the road. Refer to the
appendix for more information.

Sincerely,

Sophia Sharaa

PBL/Student’s Guide - Collision Investigation (1-D) / SPVM File # 990827-32 6

Appendix

Red car was at stop when

the collision occurred
Debris were found at
distance of 12.25 from the
cars
Two cars stuck together
made skid marks of over
12.25m
Skid marks over a
distance of 30m before
the debris
Posted speed limit is
70km/h
Other data:m1=2674kg
M2=1100kg
Vertical force=88.2N
Horizontal force=75.8N

Equations

1 m total normal force=( m1+ m2 )∗9.83744∗9.8=36985.2 N

2 Coefficient of fricction=( vertical force )=( horoizontal∗u ) 75.8=88.2∗u u=0.8594
3 force=n∗u force=36985.2∗0.8594=31785.08 N
4 force=m∗a 31785.08=3774∗a a=−8.422 m/ s2
2 2 2
5 v f =v i + 2 a∗∆ x 0=v i +2 (−8.422 )∗12.5 v=14.51 m/s
6 momentum=velocity∗mass 3774∗14.51=v∗2674 v ( final of driving car )=20.47 8 9 6. m/s
7 force=n∗u force=( 2674∗9.8 )( 0.8594 ) force=22520.784 N
2
8 force=m∗a 22520.748=2674∗a a=−8.422 m/s
9 v f 2=v i 2+ 2 a∗∆ x 20.47896=v i2 +2 (−8.422 )∗30 vi=30.41 m/s
m
∗3600 s
s
10 ∗1 km
1 hr 3000 km
∗30.41 ∗30.41=109.476 km/h
100 m 1000 hr

PBL/Student’s Guide - Collision Investigation (1-D) / SPVM File # 990827-32 7

Drawing

PBL/Student’s Guide - Collision Investigation (1-D) / SPVM File # 990827-32 8