What is Car crash: Definition and 61 Discussions

A traffic collision, also called a motor vehicle collision, car accident, or car crash, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction, such as a tree, pole or building. Traffic collisions often result in injury, disability, death, and property damage as well as financial costs to both society and the individuals involved. Road transport is the most dangerous situation people deal with on a daily basis, but casualty figures from such incidents attract less media attention than other, less frequent types of tragedy.A number of factors contribute to the risk of collisions, including vehicle design, speed of operation, road design, weather, road environment, driving skills, impairment due to alcohol or drugs, and behavior, notably aggressive driving, distracted driving, speeding and street racing.
In 2013, 54 million people worldwide sustained injuries from traffic collisions. This resulted in 1.4 million deaths in 2013, up from 1.1 million deaths in 1990. About 68,000 of these occurred in children less than five years old. Almost all high-income countries have decreasing death rates, while the majority of low-income countries have increasing death rates due to traffic collisions. Middle-income countries have the highest rate with 20 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, accounting for 80% of all road fatalities with 52% of all vehicles. While the death rate in Africa is the highest (24.1 per 100,000 inhabitants), the lowest rate is to be found in Europe (10.3 per 100,000 inhabitants).

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  1. A

    Airbag Simulation using LS-DYNA: start from filled airbag

    Hello! I'd like to model the impact of an object on an inflated air cushion (effectively an airbag) at rest in LS-DYNA, however all the tutorials I see start from a deflated airbag. I would like to skip this computation if possible to save computing time, since I would have to run the simulation...
  2. J

    B Car Crash Physics: Deceleration Calculations

    Hi, I was watching a documentary on car crashes and how designs are continually being optimised to keep passengers safe. They were saying how many ‘g’s’ certain crashes were based on crumple zones, seatbelt stretch etc. I was interested to do some number crunching to see how big the...
  3. brochesspro

    Relative Velocity of a Passenger Hitting the Dashboard in a Car Crash

    Where exactly have I gone wrong? I think it is the part where I assume that the person gains the deceleration of the car, but I have no other way to proceed in this case. Also please only use the equations that I have posted below, and it would help if you would not use the equation for...
  4. B

    Car Crash Analysis: Analyzing Friction & Speed

    Homework Statement Your consulting agency, with its extensive knowledge of physics, has been subpoenaed to provide expert testimony at an automobile accident case in civil court. The case involves a crash between a Ford Escort car and a tractor-trailer truck. 1. The police department...
  5. L

    Was the Driver Speeding Before the Crash?

    Homework Statement "Based on the following data, determine if the driver who crashed was driving over the speed limit" The relevant data given is: -A 2002 Volvo t-bones a truck in an alley with a speed limit of 20km/h -An eyewitness heard tires screech, then a loud bang, and also said the...
  6. D

    Solving the Car Crash Puzzle: Newtons 2nd Law

    I've been trying to study for my final and I can't seem to figure out how is this suppose to work. 1. Homework Statement A wall (m infinite, v=0) hits a car (m=2600 kg; v=142 km/h). The car becomes deformed and the crush zone (0.7 m) is compressed. Calculate the corresponding acceleration...
  7. A

    Car Crash Work and Energy Problem

    Homework Statement A red van came through and crashed into a green van. The driver of the red van claims that he was driving at a speed of 11 meters/second at the moment of the crash. You want to find out if his claim is true. a. the mass of the red van is 1000 kg b. the mass of the green van...
  8. W

    B Calculate Force of Car Crash: Bill's Story

    Hi I am here asking for some help. I simply struggle with maths due to ahead injury sustained in a motor accident. I am trying to find out the forces that I suffered in the crash. I know from software forums people do not like doing other peoples homework, instead the goal is to help others...
  9. J

    Equations for bending steel in a car crash?

    I wanted to know what formula's do I need to figure how much force is required to make a dent in a car. I am then placing a bumper guard made up of carbon fiber, and wanted to know what equation do I need to use to figure out how much force is required to make a dent with the carbon fiber bumper...
  10. B

    Newton's Third Law and Car Crashes

    Homework Statement In terms of Newton's Third Law, why is it better for 2 cars of the same mass, both going 50km/h to crash into each other than for 1 car going 100km/h to crash into a wall? Homework Equations Newton's Third Law F=ma The Attempt at a Solution I have no idea. I'm really confused
  11. C

    Problem on Mechanics (Newton's law of motion)

    Homework Statement This question goes like this: In an accident involving a big lorry and small car, the drivers of both vehicles were seriously injured. A student made a remark about the accident as follows: "A big lorry and a small car moved in the opposite directions and made a head-on...
  12. A

    Conservation of Momentum - Finding Initial Velocity

    Homework Statement A 1500-kg sedan goes through a wide intersection traveling from north to south when it is hit by a 2200-kg SUV traveling from east to west. The two cars become embellished due to the impact and slide as one thereafter. On-the-scene measurements show that the coefficient of...
  13. R

    Solving Car Crash Scenario: Find v1 of Car A

    Homework Statement Car A (m1=1405kg) crashes into Car B (m2=873kg) which is stationary and perpendicular to Car A. Car B is moved a distance of 1.8m out of the way and Car A rolls to a stop 9.6m away at 1.93 m/s. Assuming the coefficient of friction is 0.8, can the velocity of Car A be...
  14. H

    Car Crash Physics Project: Whiplash & Brain Injury Risk

    Okay so I have to do a project that examines whiplash and brain injury in physics. My scenario is a minivan full of 7 people of various masses. This van is at rest and gets struck from behind by a truck going 75 mph. What is a reasonable acceleration for the van after it gets struck? I'm trying...
  15. BrainMan

    Car crash conservation of momentum problem

    Homework Statement A 2200-kg van traveling north along the interstate at 25 m/s is involved in a perfectly inelastic collision with a 1500-kg automobile driven by a careless motorist who emerges at a speed of 15 m/s form an entrance ramp that makes an angle of 20 degrees with the highway. Find...
  16. R

    Car Crash Problem: Solving Speed Before Impact

    **Not a homework problem but I was directed here** Hello, over the weekend I was involved in a car accident and received a careless driving ticket because the officer believed that I was going an insane amount of speed. My first instinct to react to this would to be to sit down and do the...
  17. J

    Solving the Mystery of a 4-Way Car Crash

    Homework Statement The problem is that there are too cars and they crash and we have to gigure out which one was the one that caused the crash? Also it is a four way stop here is a pic that would help Homework Equations Find Velocity The Attempt at a Solution I don't...
  18. J

    Velocity problem in car crash

    Homework Statement A problem in the text shows a 1700kg car hitting a wall and crushing the front of the car. The car is moving at 49 km/hour constant velocity just before the impact. After the impact a camera frame shows that the car has moved or crushed about 2/9 of 2 meters in 5 x...
  19. Z

    Car Crash Physics: Velocities & Energy Lost in Collision

    I need to know the velocities before and after the collision and the engery lost. I have some of it figured out I am just stuck and could use some help. Here is the entire problem. The situation: a patron has just entered his car after lunch in the parking lot of the Cliff-Side Café. Suddenly...
  20. V

    Car Crash Motion in 1 dimension Question

    Homework Statement During a car accident, a vehicle with an intial velocity of 100km/h hits a concrete wall. The "crumple zone" in the front of the vehicle is a space that makes up the engine compartment that is designed to allow the passenger compartment to continue forward a distance of...
  21. 1

    Forces applied to occupants in car crash (important for assignment )

    Forces applied to occupants in car crash (important for assignment!) Ok so I'm in grade 10 at school and for my physics assignment I'm comparing the forces applied on the vehicle (or occupants) in a collision, where one car has a crumple zone and the other one doesn't. If they were both...
  22. G

    Car Crash Physics Involving Skid Marks

    Homework Statement Two vehicles crash at an intersection Mass of vehicle one: 1858kg Mass of vehicle two: 2865Kg Vehicle one was headed North Vehicle two was headed East The two vehicles stuck together in a t-bone fashion and the two vehicles left the intersection stuck together, moving at...
  23. E

    Speed and distance in a car crash

    I had a car accident and need to go to court to prove my case. Please help me figure this out with what formulas I need to use. Also please explain details so I can explain it to the judge. Thanks. Here it is: I was traveling when I hit a car that pulled out in front of me. She claims she was...
  24. A

    Speed and relative damage in car crash

    Hi, This week I was in an accident - one track road head on round a bend. My impression was that the other car was faster and yet their car was more damaged. I know that make and design is a huge issue in this but trying to recall my physics and failing. In the not real, frictonless...
  25. C

    Calculating Momentum Change of 70kg Passenger in Car Crash

    1.A 70 kg front seat passenger is in a car moving initially at 24m/s and is brought to rest by an airbag in 0.4 seconds after a crash. 2. What is the change of momentum of the person in the car 3. mΔv = (70kg)(24m/s) = 1680kg m/s Am I calculating this right? Is FΔt=mΔv...
  26. Borg

    World's most expensive car crash

    14 cars with eight Ferraris https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAtelRZCFWc
  27. P

    Acceleration car crash g's experienced?

    acceleration car crash g's experienced?? Homework Statement Acceleration is sometimes expressed in multiples of g where g=9.8m/s^2 is the acceleration due to the Earth's gravity. In a car crash the cars velocity may go from 26m/s to 0m/s in 15s. how many g"s are experienced on average by...
  28. D

    Force of the average car crash

    I was wondering is there any research that has been done into the typical amount of force generated duing a car crash. Eg, when the car hits a wall for example does anyone know the average force needed to stop it? thoght it'd be interesting to know since I'm doing similar research on this...
  29. D

    Does a Seat Belt Increase Risk of Injury in a Car Crash?

    I'm doing a project for physics involving crashing cars into walls and recording the forces generated... I've heard that a seat belt actually causes most deaths in the instance of a crash... is this true? Thanks, "Practice is necessary to improve an athlete’s performance without it, the...
  30. I

    Force of a car crash basic physics.

    Hello all. Firstly, I want to note that I'm sure you've all heard this question multiple times but I don't know what search phrases I would use to find it - so I'm sorry for asking a boring basic question. OK, I'm learning extremely basic introductory physics and I was having a look at...
  31. O

    Car crash stimulus calculations

    there is a car crash where car A is resting at the traffic lights and car B is driving at 100km/hr and at 45m saw the car and stepped on the brakes. the velocity of car B is 27.8m/s the deceleration is -6.7 m s^-2 the thinking distance is 41.7m weight of car B is 1385 kg weight of car...
  32. B

    Car Crash Physics: Comparing Head-On Collisions & Relativity

    I've been sitting here thinking about collisions, deceleration, and conservation of momentum, and I just want to see if I'm on the right track. For a start, let's say we crash a car into a solid, "unmovable" wall at 50 mph, and measure the results. If we then take two cars identical to that...
  33. I

    Combination of Speeds? Car Crash problem?

    Homework Statement Mr. Smith was traveling northbound on Ashland Blvd when his car broadsided Mr. Green’s car, as it traveled east on Lime Rd. When the cars collided, they stuck together and slid. Analysis of the skid marks before the cars collided, indicated that Mr. Green did not apply his...
  34. S

    Calculating Weight Increase in Car Crash: 12 Stone Occupant at 30mph

    [b]1. Can you be of any help, I need a simple (if that is possible) equation to help me determine the weight increase of a 12 stone occupant of a car doing 30mph coming to a dead stop? [b]2. Don't have a clue [b]3. This is a very general question to put into a slide show...
  35. D

    Tetrahedron car crash prevention

    Homework Statement Imagine a planet in the shape of a regular tetrahedron (its surface consists of 4 equilateral triangles). Suppose that on each face there is a car traveling at a constant speed in clockwise direction along the edges bounding the face. Can they travel without crashing...
  36. A

    Solving a 3-Car Crash: Physics Questions and Answers for Legal Defense

    Please help me answer some of the physics questions related to a 3 car accident... I was the middle car in a three-car crash during heavy morning rush hours (stop n go) traffic. The truck in front of me and I came to an almost complete stop when all of a sudden I was hit from behind by a...
  37. K

    Car crash: Can it be an elastic collision?

    If two cars are going towards each other, collide, and then are separated (have separate masses and separate velocities)... that is an elastic collision, correct?
  38. W

    Is a Smart Car Safe in a Crash? Designing an Experiment to Test Its Safety

    Hi everyone, As part of the IB program, we are all required to design an experiment and write about how we would go about testing it . My instructor's decided that the best way to test this would be to "Determine using physics whether a Smart Car is safe in a crash" Since this is a...
  39. S

    Solve Car Crash Problem: 1082667 J Force Applied

    Homework Statement A 1015 kg automobile hits a tree at 32 m/s, coming to a complete stop in 0.03 s. What force was applied to the car by the tree? (Take the forward direction of the car as positive).Homework Equations i don't know what would be relevant. f=m/a f (cos theta) dThe Attempt at a...
  40. S

    Is Lower Impulse Better for Surviving a Car Crash?

    I just need some quick input. When dealing with impulse and say a car crash, would you want to have a larger impulse and thus a larger change in momentum or a smaller impulse and smaller change in momentum? It seems to me that with a car going say 50 km/hr with a mass of 1000kg then your...
  41. P

    Car Crash numbers not working?

    SOLVED Homework Statement Seat belts and air bags save lives by reducing the forces exerted on the driver and passengers in an automobile collision. Cars are designed with a "crumple zone" in the front of the car. In the event of an impact, the passenger compartment decelerates over a...
  42. D

    Avoid Car Crash - Algebra Based

    Homework Statement 35. Speedy Sue, driving at 30.0 m/s, enters a one-lane tunnel. She then observes a slow‐moving van 155 m ahead traveling at 5.00 m/s. Sue applies her brakes but can accelerate only at ‐2.00m/s2 because the road is wet. Will there be a collision? State how you decide...
  43. C

    Car Crash Problem: Was Driver Speeding?

    Homework Statement There are two cars and the situation is located at a crossroad. car 1 is traveling south and car 2 is traveling east. For some strange reason car 2 has slammed the brakes and stopped right in the middle of the intersection, causing car 1 to 't-bone' crash into car 2. the...
  44. F

    Can Human Forearm Bones Withstand the Stress of a High-Speed Car Crash?

    states of matter problem, me = :confused: Total cross-sectional area of a load-bearing calcified portion of 2 forearm bones is approx 2.4cm squared. During a car crash, the forearm is slammed against the dashboard. the arm comes to frest from intiial speed of 80 km/h in 5.0 ms. If arm has...
  45. S

    Car Crash Collision - Calculating Velocity

    Question: A 480kg car moving at 14.4m/s hits from behind another car moving at 13.3m/s in the same direction. If the second car has a mass of 570kg and a new speed of 17.9m/s what is the velocity of the first car after collision? Since there is a velocity for one car after the collision and...
  46. A

    Question regarding a car crash

    My driving instructor told me that if you know you are going to crash into another car, then brake right before contact. Wouldn't it make more sense start to brake as early as possible because it would decrease velocity which would decrese the force of impact?
  47. ~christina~

    Car Crash and Such: Investigation and Analysis

    [SOLVED] Car Crash and such Homework Statement At 1320 on the last Friday in September 1989 a frantic call was received at the local police station. There had been a serious automobile accident at the intersection of Main Street and State Street, with injuries involved. Lt. John Henry...
  48. D

    What is the best way to minimize damage in a car crash?

    Homework Statement You're in a car, and you see a car coming at you in the opposite direction. Assume that both cars are identical in all matters including velocity and mass (neither given). To your left and right are a brick wall, you will hit this head on if you swerve. Is it better to...
  49. T

    Richard hammond's car crash

    [b]1. What forces were involved in Richard Hammond's car crash? (the little presenter on Top Gear):rofl: Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution
  50. G

    Momentum Theory To Solve Car Crash?

    I wonder if someone might suggest an approach to solve this problem? A vehicle weighing 5000 lbs is moving at 10 mph and is struck from behind by a vehicle weighing 5000 lbs and moving at a high rate of speed. The slow-moving vehicle is pushed forward a distance of 150 feet. How fast was...
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