Automobile collision force problem

In summary, seat belts and airbags are crucial safety features in cars that can save lives by reducing the forces exerted on the driver and passengers in a collision. The front of cars is designed with a crumple zone, allowing the passenger compartment to decelerate over a distance of about 1 m as the front of the car crumples. Occupants who are restrained by seat belts and airbags will decelerate with the car, while unrestrained occupants will continue moving forward until they hit the dashboard or windshield, resulting in a much shorter deceleration distance.(a) In a head-on collision with a car traveling at 15m/s, a 60kg person wearing a seat belt and with the airbag deployed
  • #1
mowassel
6
0
seat belts and airbags 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 a impact, the passenger compartment decelerates over a distance of about 1 m as the front of the car crumples. an occupant restrained by seat belts and air bags decelerates witht the car. by contrast, an unrestrained occupant keeps moving forward with no loss of speed (Newton's first law) until hitting the dashboard or windshield. these are unyielding surfaces, and the unfortunate occupant the decelerates over a distance of only about 5.

a)a 60kg person is in a head on collision. the car's speed at impact is 15m/s. estimate the net force on the person if he or she is wearing a seat belt and if the air bag deploys.

b) estimate the net force that ultimately stops the person if her or she is not restrained by a seat belt or air bag.

c) how do these two forces compare to the person's weight?
 
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  • #2
What attempts have you made to solve the problem so far? We won't do your homework for you, because that will be of absolutely no help to you. However, if you show us how far you got and where specifically you got stuck, we can help point you in the right direction.

Hint for part (a): how much work has to be done to bring the person to a stop? Over what distance is this work being done?
 
  • #3
i tried solving it acouple of time but failed...please or explain how i should do it?
 

1. What is the formula for calculating collision force in an automobile collision?

The formula for calculating collision force is Force = Mass x Acceleration. The mass is measured in kilograms (kg) and the acceleration is measured in meters per second squared (m/s2).

2. How does the speed of a car affect the force of impact in a collision?

The speed of a car greatly affects the force of impact in a collision. The greater the speed, the greater the force of impact. This is because the car has more kinetic energy which is converted into force upon impact.

3. What other factors besides speed and mass can affect the collision force in an automobile accident?

Other factors that can affect collision force include the type of collision (head-on, rear-end, etc.), the angle of impact, and the type of materials involved in the collision (e.g. a collision between a car and a truck will have a different force than a collision between two cars).

4. How does the design and structure of a car impact collision force?

The design and structure of a car can greatly impact collision force. Cars with crumple zones and other safety features are designed to absorb and distribute the force of impact, reducing the force felt by the passengers inside. This is why it is important to choose a car with a high safety rating.

5. What can be done to reduce the force of impact in automobile collisions?

There are several things that can be done to reduce the force of impact in automobile collisions. These include wearing seat belts, using car seats for children, driving at safe speeds, and following traffic laws. Additionally, advancements in car safety technology and stricter regulations on car design have helped to reduce the force of impact in collisions.

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