Newton's Second Law and car acceleration

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of force and acceleration, particularly when a car hits an individual. The formula F=ma is mentioned, but it is noted that the force experienced during impact is not the same as the force accelerating the car. The concept of momentum is also brought up, with the understanding that it takes into account the velocity of the car. The individual also mentions wanting to test their understanding of Newton's laws and acknowledges that further understanding may come with learning about momentum.
  • #1
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I'm having a hard time understanding this.
If a car that has a constant acceleration hits me let's say at 10km/h then at 100km/h will it exert the same amount of force on me? F= ma mass and acceleration are constant. But this doesn't seem right, does it?

Do you guys know any good website or a book that has questions that will test my conceptual understanding of Newton's laws.
Thanks:-p
 
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  • #2
If you're talking about hitting, you have to consider momentum, which does take into account the velocity of the car.
 
  • #3
The force accelerating the car is not the same as the force you'd experience when it hit you. F=ma works for the car, but the force you feel is the change in your momentum delta-P, divided by the time it takes to change momentum, delta-t.

Consider the case of a car that isn't accelerating at all, just moving at constant speed. When it hits you, there's no accelerating force F=ma, but you'll still feel a force on impact.
 
  • #4
ahh... ok. I guess I have to wait till we get to momentum to fully understand this. thanks
 

FAQ: Newton's Second Law and car acceleration

1. How does Newton's Second Law explain car acceleration?

According to Newton's Second Law of Motion, the acceleration of a car is directly proportional to the net force acting on the car and inversely proportional to its mass. This means that the greater the force applied to the car, the greater its acceleration will be, and the heavier the car is, the slower its acceleration will be.

2. What is the formula for calculating acceleration using Newton's Second Law?

The formula for acceleration, as stated by Newton's Second Law, is a = F/m, where a is the acceleration, F is the net force acting on the car, and m is the mass of the car. This formula can be rearranged to solve for any of the variables.

3. How do the forces of friction and air resistance affect car acceleration?

The forces of friction and air resistance act in the opposite direction of the car's motion and therefore, they decrease the net force acting on the car. This results in a slower acceleration, as stated by Newton's Second Law.

4. Can a car accelerate without any external forces acting on it?

No, according to Newton's Second Law, an object will not accelerate unless there is a net external force acting on it. In the case of a car, this force is usually the engine's force pushing the car forward.

5. How does the mass of a car affect its acceleration?

The greater the mass of a car, the slower its acceleration will be, as stated by Newton's Second Law. This is because a heavier car requires more force to accelerate compared to a lighter car with the same amount of force applied.

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