Discover the Force Required to Stop an Object Instantly | Physics Refresher

[spanky]

Can anybody tell me how to find the force required to stop an object completely dead, instantly. It's been a long time since i last did physics, but an explanation as to how it works would also be appreciated!

 

[Hootenanny]

Can anybody tell me how to find the force required to stop an object completely dead, instantly. It's been a long time since i last did physics, but an explanation as to how it works would also be appreciated!

One cannot instantaneously bring an object to rest. Perhaps you could elaborate on your problem.

 

[kyle8921]

To find the force required to stop an object instantly, we can use the equation F=ma, where F is the force, m is the mass of the object, and a is the acceleration. In this case, we want the acceleration to be equal to the velocity of the object divided by the time it takes to stop (which we will assume to be 0 seconds). This gives us the equation F=m(v/0), which is undefined. This means that it is impossible to stop an object instantly without an infinite amount of force.

In reality, it is not possible to stop an object instantly because of the concept of inertia. An object will continue to move at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force. So, to stop an object, we need to apply a force in the opposite direction of its motion for a certain amount of time to gradually decrease its velocity to 0.

Additionally, the force required to stop an object will also depend on the properties of the object itself, such as its mass, shape, and material. For example, a heavier object will require more force to stop compared to a lighter object with the same initial velocity.

I hope this explanation helps to refresh your understanding of physics. Remember, in science, it is important to always consider the limitations and factors that may affect our results.