Skid mark
Definition
A dark rubber deposit left when locked wheels slide along the road surface. Length combined with the friction coefficient allows calculation of minimum entry speed using the standard kinematics equation.
Related terms
- Coefficient of friction (mu)
- The dimensionless ratio of frictional force to normal force between tire and road. It determines how quickly a skidding vehicle decelerates. Typical...
- Conservation of momentum
- In a collision, the vector sum of all momenta (mass × velocity) before impact equals the vector sum after, provided no significant...
- Critical speed yaw mark
- Curved scuff marks deposited when a vehicle slides sideways. The radius of curvature and friction coefficient yield the vehicle's minimum speed at...
- Delta-V
- The change in vehicle velocity during the crash event, recorded by the EDR as a time-history. It is the integral of the...
- Perception-reaction time (PRT)
- The elapsed time from when a driver can first perceive a hazard to when the brakes begin to apply. Olson and Farber...
Explained in
- Accident Reconstruction PhysicsA dark rubber deposit left when locked wheels slide along the road surface. Length combined with the friction coefficient allows calculation of minimum entry s...