Force on Passenger in Car Crash: 602N

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kp0684
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Force Motion
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a car crash scenario where a passenger moves forward upon impact, and the task is to determine the magnitude of the force acting on the passenger's upper torso during this event. The relevant subject area includes kinematics and dynamics, particularly focusing on forces and motion during a collision.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss using kinematic equations to find acceleration and relate it to the force experienced by the passenger. There is also mention of using energy considerations to approach the problem.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different methods to calculate the force. Some guidance has been provided regarding the use of kinematic equations and energy principles, but there is no explicit consensus on a single approach yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of correctly identifying the initial speed versus acceleration and the relevance of the distance over which the passenger comes to rest. There is also a mention of the need to post such questions in the appropriate homework section.

Kp0684
Messages
14
Reaction score
0
A car traveling at 53km/h hits a bridge abutment. A passenger in the car moves forward a distance of 65cm (with respect to the road) while being brought to rest by an inflated air bag. What magnitude of force (assumed constant) acts on the passenger's upper torso, which has a mass of 41kg? .... i get 14.7m/s2 for the cars speed which is my (a), and my mass is 41kg...F=ma gives me 602Newtons...i am lost on which equation to use...need help...
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I would use one of the kinematic equations to find the acceleration and then multiple that by the mass of the torso myself.

Edit:Should probably post questions like these in the homework section.
 
Last edited:
Kp0684 said:
i get 14.7m/s2 for the cars speed which is my (a),
14.7m/s is the car's initial speed, not acceleration. To find the acceleration, follow Davorak's advice. (Hint: Find a kinematics equation that relates acceleration, distance, and speed.)

(I am moving this to the Homework forum, where it belongs.)
 
Kp0684 said:
A car traveling at 53km/h hits a bridge abutment. A passenger in the car moves forward a distance of 65cm (with respect to the road) while being brought to rest by an inflated air bag. What magnitude of force (assumed constant) acts on the passenger's upper torso, which has a mass of 41kg? .... i get 14.7m/s2 for the cars speed which is my (a), and my mass is 41kg...F=ma gives me 602Newtons...i am lost on which equation to use...need help...
However, it's also true the original kinetic energy E=(1/2)(41 kg)(14.7 m/s)^2 was dissipated to 0 over 0.65 meters by the assumed constant force F=(E/0.65).

~~
 
Last edited:
i have the magnitude force equal to (6.82 x 10^3 N)...
 
Your answer F=(6.82x10^3 N) is CORRECT.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
6K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 46 ·
2
Replies
46
Views
13K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K