A car (car1) is traveling in the positive x direction with a speed v when the driver notices a car (car2) that is stopped in front of him a distance d. In order to avoid a collision, he immediately applies the brakes resulting in an acceleration of –a1. At the same time, the parked car starts to accelerate in the positive x direction with an acceleration of a2. Determine the distance d in terms of v, a1 and a2 if the cars are to just barely avoid a collision.
2. The attempt at a solution
This is my first physics class ever and I'm completely lost. But I know that the cars will not collide if traveling in the same direction with the same velocity. So, does that mean that I have to find the distance at which the velocity of car2 equals that of car1?
I think the kinematics equation you would use is (vf)^2=(vi)^2 + 2ad