Re: That jerk again!

[Brad Shue <jshue@comp.uark.edu>]

On Tue, 18 Nov 1997, Leigh Palmer wrote:

> What's happening here? There is no discontinuity in velocity,
> but when I apply the brake there is a discontinuity in the
> acceleration. Of course the car is in equilibrium in an
> accelerated frame while it slows, but I can't believe that is
> the cause (the rapid change to a nonaccelerating frame)
> because the acceleration can vary a great deal and the
> subjective discontinuity does not seem to do so.

It is probably due to the brake pads grabbing at slightly different times
which would exert a torque on the vehicle causing it to jerk.  At slow
speeds, this would be more noticable too.
--
James Bradford Shue                             jshue@comp.uark.edu
University of Arkansas                          Voice phone:(501) 575-6059
Physics Lab/Demo Curator                        FAX Number: (501) 575-4580
WWW Page					http://comp.uark.edu/~jshue
--