Car Crash Physics Project: Whiplash & Brain Injury Risk

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the acceleration of a minivan struck from behind by a truck traveling at 75 mph, specifically examining the forces experienced by passengers and the risk of whiplash and brain injury. Key concepts include momentum, impulse, and angular kinematics, which are essential for understanding the physics of the scenario. Participants emphasize the importance of considering the torque exerted on the neck by the seatbelt during impact, which affects head and neck movement. The conversation highlights the need for precise calculations to determine the g-forces experienced by occupants, ranging from 10 to 50 g's.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of momentum and impulse in physics
  • Knowledge of angular kinematics and torque
  • Familiarity with basic principles of acceleration and force
  • Ability to calculate g-forces based on mass and acceleration
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the mass of typical trucks and minivans to apply in calculations
  • Learn how to calculate acceleration using Newton's second law of motion
  • Explore the effects of seatbelt dynamics on passenger movement during a collision
  • Investigate real-world data on whiplash injury rates and associated g-forces
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physics students, automotive safety researchers, and professionals in biomechanics or accident reconstruction who are interested in the dynamics of vehicle collisions and their effects on human occupants.

haveyouseenlyss
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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 to find the force applied on the car, so I can calculate the amount of g's each person is feeling and determine how susceptible they are to concussions (10-50 g's).

Also if anyone knows how I could incorporate angular kinematics, that'd be great.
 
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Are you familiar with momentum and impulse?
 
AlephNumbers said:
Are you familiar with momentum and impulse?
Yes, I used momentum and impulse in my draft and was told to redo my project because it wasn't focused enough on the physics behind whiplash :(
 
Okay. Think about the person in the car. If they are wearing a seatbelt, what happens when they get hit?
 
AlephNumbers said:
Okay. Think about the person in the car. If they are wearing a seatbelt, what happens when they get hit?
Their body/head jolts forward and backward?
 
Yes, but it is important to specify that their head and neck rotate due to the torque exerted at somewhere around the base of the neck by the seatbelt.
 
If it were simply a linear motion then their heads would have to pop off their bodies and fly until they came into contact with something else. Surely you can see how absurd that would be?
 
AlephNumbers said:
If it were simply a linear motion then their heads would have to pop off their bodies and fly until they came into contact with something else. Surely you can see how absurd that would be?
Yeah I get that, I'm just trying to figure out what a reasonable acceleration is for the car that gets hit
 
Look up values for the mass of a truck and the mass of a minivan.
 

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