Motion & Force: Calculate Force from Car Collision w/ Abutment

[tjbateh]

Homework Statement

A car traveling at 48 km/h hits a bridge abutment. A passenger in the car moves forward a distance of 53 cm (with respect to the road) while being brought to rest by an inflated air bag. What magnitude of force (assumed constant) acts on the passenger's upper torso, which has a mass of 40 kg?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

Any idea how to solve this without using kinetic energy equations?

 

[tiny-tim]

… Any idea how to solve this without using kinetic energy equations?

Hi tjbateh!

You have an initial speed, a final speed, and a distance, so use one of the constant acceleration equations to find the acceleration …

then use F = ma.