What factors determine the acceleration of vehicles in a head-on collision?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jonathan Teas
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Impulse Momentum
AI Thread Summary
In a head-on collision between a compact car and a large truck, both vehicles experience equal forces of impact due to Newton's Third Law, which states that forces are equal and opposite. The impulse, defined as force multiplied by time, is also the same for both vehicles since they are in contact for the same duration. Consequently, both vehicles undergo the same change in momentum, as impulse is equivalent to change in momentum according to Newton's Second Law. However, the acceleration differs because acceleration is inversely related to mass; the lighter compact car will experience greater acceleration than the heavier truck. Understanding these principles of physics is crucial for analyzing vehicle collisions.
Jonathan Teas
Messages
13
Reaction score
0
Hello,
I am taking a college level physics course and have a question.
Heres the question...
"Acompact car and a large truck have a head-on collision. Durring the collision, which vehical, if either, experiences:"
a. the greater force of impact? please explain
b. the greater impulse? please explain
c. the greater change in momentum? please explain
d. the greater acceleration? please explain
I did the answers myself and got all but one wrong...i know that there all equal except d, but i don't know why. I looked in the book and i didnt like there explanation and my teacher i can't speak to for another 3 days so I would greately appreciate it if this was answered...
 
Physics news on Phys.org


Newton's 3rd Law tells us that the force of A on B is equal (but opposite in direction) to the force of B on A.
The time it takes the objects to stop is the same for both as they are mutually in contact with each other for the same time.
Impulse is force times time so they must have the same impulse.
Impulse is equal to change in momentum (Newton's 2nd Law) so they must both experience the same change in momentum.
 


Thank you:
Newtons laws can explain anything in kinamatics lol
 
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
View full post »

Thread 'Struggling to understand the concept of this question (ice cube in water optics question)'

TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
View full post »

Similar threads

Ambiguous question on momentum and how it works...
Replies
13
Views
1K
Solving a Head-on Collision: Qs 1-4
Replies
5
Views
3K
Why is momentum conservation always true in a collision?
Replies
4
Views
2K
Elastic collision of block on block
Replies
4
Views
2K
Potential Energy - 2D inelastic collision - ballistic pendulum
Replies
10
Views
2K
Cars Collide on a Hill, Conservation of Momentum
Replies
7
Views
2K
Two-dimensional perfectly inelastic collision between two vehicles
Replies
3
Views
1K
Newton's Second Law: Understanding Forces, Masses, and Acceleration
Replies
3
Views
2K
Solving Elastic Collision of Two Balls: Theory & Solutions
Replies
15
Views
3K
Impulse exerted on car during collision
Replies
4
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top