Car crash-completely inelastic collision?

AI Thread Summary
In a car crash, such as hitting a tree or a head-on collision, the collision is typically considered completely inelastic. The kinetic energy during the crash is primarily converted into internal energy, which includes the deformation of the vehicle's crumple zones and the heating of compressed components. While a head-on collision with another vehicle of the same size can exhibit some elastic characteristics depending on speed and angle, hitting a stationary object like a tree is largely inelastic. The energy is used to create free surfaces on broken parts and to deform the vehicles involved. Understanding these energy transformations is crucial for analyzing vehicle safety and crash dynamics.
pebbles
Messages
95
Reaction score
0
If a car crashed into a tree, or a head-on collision with another vehicle, the collision would be completely inelastic correct?
What would the kinetic energy be converted to? Internal energy?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
A head on with another same size vehicle could be fairly elastic - it depends on the speed and the angle.
Hitting a tree is pretty inelastic - although you might bounce back slightly.
The energy goes into deforming the crumple zone, creating free surfaces on broken parts and heating the compressed components.
 

Thread 'Errors and significant figures'

I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
View full post »
Thread 'Collision of a bullet on a rod-string system: query'

Thread 'Collision of a bullet on a rod-string system: query'

In this question, I have a question. I am NOT trying to solve it, but it is just a conceptual question. Consider the point on the rod, which connects the string and the rod. My question: just before and after the collision, is ANGULAR momentum CONSERVED about this point? Lets call the point which connects the string and rod as P. Why am I asking this? : it is clear from the scenario that the point of concern, which connects the string and the rod, moves in a circular path due to the string...
View full post »
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
View full post »

Similar threads

Fast and Furious Scene Analysis
Replies
47
Views
3K
Transition from Elastic to Inelastic collision
Replies
18
Views
2K
Hinged rod rotating, falling and hitting a mass
Replies
11
Views
2K
Why is momentum conservation always true in a collision?
Replies
4
Views
2K
Inelastic collision, determine ratio KEf/KEi
Replies
3
Views
3K
Kinetic energy and momentum of two satellites colliding
Replies
8
Views
3K
Potential Energy - 2D inelastic collision - ballistic pendulum
Replies
10
Views
2K
Question regarding inelastic/elastic collision.
Replies
2
Views
2K
Impulse and perfectly inelastic collision between 2 points
Replies
4
Views
734
Elastic Collision and Momentum of Ice Skaters
Replies
16
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top