A baseball player slides into third base with an initial speed of 5.0 m/s. If the coefficient of kinetic friction between the player and the ground is 0.45, how far does the player slide before coming to rest?

Question

A baseball player slides into third base with an initial speed of 5.0 m/s.  If the coefficient of kinetic friction between the player and the ground is 0.45, how far does the player slide before coming to rest?

theeric · Answer

Hi! Have you attempted a solution, @Bing2009 ?

anonymous · Answer

The mass of the player makes no difference in this problem because more mass means more normal force down and more horizontal force from momentum, so they cancel each other

d = V^2 / 2 u *g
d = distance in meters to stop
V = velocity of player
u = coefficient of kinetic friction = 0.45
g = gravity acceleration = 9.81 m/s^2

d = (5 m/s)^2 / 2 * 0.45 * 9.81 m/s^2

d = 2.8 meters the player slides to a stop

theeric · Answer

I agree! The trick is deriving that equation.

Let us know if you have any questions, @Bing2009