Force required to bend/dent aluminum

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Joe Butler
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Aluminum Force Steel
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the force required to dent aluminum, specifically in the context of a scene from "Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior." The user proposes using impulse calculations based on the gyrocopter's speed of 56 ft/s and a weight of 500 lbs, but recognizes the complexity of the physics involved. An alternative approach suggested is to analyze the energy comparison between the gyrocopter crash and typical car crashes from the 1950s, prior to the introduction of crumple zones.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of impulse and momentum principles in physics
  • Basic knowledge of energy conservation and kinetic energy calculations
  • Familiarity with the properties of aluminum and its mechanical behavior
  • Awareness of historical automotive safety features, particularly crumple zones
NEXT STEPS
  • Research impulse calculations in physics, focusing on real-world applications
  • Study energy conservation principles and their relevance to crash dynamics
  • Examine the mechanical properties of aluminum, including yield strength and ductility
  • Investigate the evolution of automotive safety features, particularly the impact of crumple zones on crash outcomes
USEFUL FOR

Students in physics courses, automotive engineers, film analysts, and anyone interested in the application of physics in real-world scenarios, particularly in relation to vehicle safety and crash dynamics.

Joe Butler
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
For my physics class we have to show an example of bad physics in a movie. I am doing Mad Max 2: The road Warrior and the scene where the gyro captain crashes his ultralight helicopter but the helicopter is completely undamaged as he drives it later in the movie. I need to know what the force to dent aluminum would be assuming that he crashed with a 45 degree angle with the ground. I was going to use impulse as he goes from just over 56ft/s to 0 in .13s and use that to find force and we assume his plane weighs 500lbs.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Not my field but I don't think it's that simple to calculate. Perhaps it would be easier approach it from an energy perspective. Compare the energy the gyrocopter has with a typical car crash or calculate the equivalent amount of dynamite.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Joe Butler
CWatters said:
Not my field but I don't think it's that simple to calculate. Perhaps it would be easier approach it from an energy perspective. Compare the energy the gyrocopter has with a typical car crash or calculate the equivalent amount of dynamite.
Thank You! I actually decided to compare it to car crashes from the 1950s as that was the pre"crumple zone" era
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 33 ·
2
Replies
33
Views
14K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
10K
Replies
14
Views
11K