Insights Blog
-- Browse All Articles --
Physics Articles
Physics Tutorials
Physics Guides
Physics FAQ
Math Articles
Math Tutorials
Math Guides
Math FAQ
Education Articles
Education Guides
Bio/Chem Articles
Technology Guides
Computer Science Tutorials
Forums
Intro Physics Homework Help
Advanced Physics Homework Help
Precalculus Homework Help
Calculus Homework Help
Bio/Chem Homework Help
Engineering Homework Help
Trending
Featured Threads
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Intro Physics Homework Help
Advanced Physics Homework Help
Precalculus Homework Help
Calculus Homework Help
Bio/Chem Homework Help
Engineering Homework Help
Menu
Log in
Register
Navigation
More options
Contact us
Close Menu
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Forums
Homework Help
Introductory Physics Homework Help
What is the Average Force During a Collision?
Reply to thread
Message
[QUOTE="haruspex, post: 4509765, member: 334404"] I often see this question in different guises. It is an error on the part of the poser of the question. You are given a stopping distance and asked about a force. Since force x distance = energy, the obvious approach is to compute the KE and divide by the distance. That gives an average force in a sense, but it is an average over a distance, not an average over time. When we talk of average acceleration (and thus of average force) we mean the change in velocity divided by the time taken, so it's an average over time. In practice, the force during a collision tends to increase more or less linearly from 0 to a maximum, then may stay at that maximum (as objects crumple) for a while, then quickly fall away to nothing. However, that makes it impossible to calculate the average over time without further information. Sorry I can't be more helpful. I suggest you use the energy approach to get the answer expected, but please understand that it is wrong. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Post reply
Forums
Homework Help
Introductory Physics Homework Help
What is the Average Force During a Collision?
Back
Top