The law of conservation of momentum states that the total momentum of a closed system

must remain constant. Only when an outside force acts on the system can the total
momentum ever change. We will treat this accident as a single closed system. Total
momentum held in both cars must be exactly the same immediately before, and
immediately after the accident. This will be the basis upon which all of the following
calculations are performed.

Below we see a simple diagram of the accident scene.

Dr. Mike

John Doe

Collision
θ
55∘
Path 2- 88 ft.
35∘

Path 3- 146 ft.

Curb

Drawing NOT to scale.

Our first equation is given in (1). This gives us a direct relation between velocity and
acceleration.

2
Vinitial = V final
2
− 2ad (1)

Acceleration can be further broken down as shown in equation (2).

a = − fg (2)
We know that Dr. Mike’s car came to a complete stop. This means that we can plug in a
0 for the final velocity. This is shown in equation (3).

−3 = (0) − 2a 3 d 3 = −2a 3 d 3
2 2
Vinitial (3)

We know that paths II and III are connected and that there was not a break in motion
between the two. This allows us to say that the final velocity for path II is also the initial
velocity for path III. We can now combine the equations for both path II and path III to
give us equation (4).

− 2 = V final − 2 − 2a 2 d 2 = −2a 3 d 3 − 2a 2 d 2
2 2
Vinitial (4)

We can then substitute equation (2) into equation (4), Dr. Mike’s velocity immediately
after the crash is given by this new equation:

− 2 = V post − crash = 2 f 3 gd 3 + 2 f 2 gd 2
2 2
Vinitial (5)

Now we must begin plugging in values in order to evaluate this equation. The surface of
path II is new, sharp Portland cement, and the surface of path III is crushed rock
ft
g = 32.2
sec 2
d 2 = 88 ft
d 3 = 146 ft
f 2 = 0.55
f 3 = 0.80

These coefficients are given in the book, Traffic Accident Reconstruction. These values
are given in ranges. We decided to use the lowest of these due to the fact that Dr. Mike
was not conscious and did not apply the brakes. We can see from the pictures of the
accident scene that no skid marks were made. Had the car skidded, these coefficients
would have been much higher. The equation with the coefficients added is given in (6).

ft
V post −crash = (2)(0.80)(32.2)(146) + (2)(0.55)(32.2)(88) = 100 = 68mph (6)
sec

This tells us that immediately after the crash Dr. Mike’s speed was about 68 miles per
hour. This is where momentum conservation comes into play. Equation (7) shows this:

ptotal = m1u1 + m2 u 2 = m1v1 + m2 v 2 (7)

Momentum is a vector quantity, it has direction and magnitude. This means that both of
these must be conserved. Dr. Mike’s initial momentum was only in the y-direction. If we
add the y-component of John Doe’s momentum it will give us the total momentum that
Dr. Mike had after the collision. We must multiply the momentum of John Doe’s car by
the sine of the angle that the vehicle made with the horizontal in order to find out just
how much momentum was transferred to Dr. Mike’s vehicle. In the same way, we must
multiply the result by the cosine of 35 because this is the angle that Dr. Mike’s car made
with the horizontal after the impact. All of this is given in equation (8):

p m −initial + p y 2−initial = p m −initial + p 2−initial sin θ = p ym − final = p m − final cos 35 (8)

Equation (9) is a simplified version of equation (8).

p m −initial = p m − final cos 35 − p 2−initial sin θ (9)

Using equations (7) and (9) we can assume equation (10) due to the conservation of
momentum. The “m” subscript represents Dr. Mike, and “2” represents John Doe.

M mVm −initial = M mVm− final cos 35 − M 2V2 sin θ (10)

Now we have the velocity equation for Dr. Mike just before the collision, equation (11).

M mVm − final cos 35 − M 2V2 sin θ

Vm −initial = (11)
Mm

Here is the set of known values that must be plugged into the equations to give us Dr.
Mike’s velocity just before the collision.

M m = 2500lbs
ft
Vm − final = 100
sec
M 2 = 5500lbs
ft
V2 = 70
sec
θ = 30 

Assuming that John Doe was driving the speed limit on Woodrow Bean, 45 miles per
hour, and assuming an impact angle of 30 degrees due to the pictures of Dr. Mike’s car
taken after the accident, we can complete equation as given in (12).

( 2500)(100)(cos 35) − (5500)(70)(sin 30) ft

Vm −initial = =5 = 3mph (12)
(2500) sec
This tells us how fast Dr. Mike must have been travelling just prior to the collision. The
result is found to be five feet per second, or about three miles per hour.

Photograph 2- Impact site on Dr. DeAntonio’s driver’s side.