Calculating Force of a Side Collision: Help Appreciated

In summary, the conversation discusses the difficulty in calculating the force received by a driver during a collision. The speaker mentions understanding the physics of a car hitting a wall, but struggles when the collision involves another object in motion, like hitting the passenger's side door. They request assistance and the other person suggests considering the cars to be equal in mass and compressibility, and dividing the driver's kinetic energy by the stopping distance. They also note that modern cars are designed to absorb impacts by collapsing at a fairly constant resistance, leading to a steady increase in force during the impact.
  • #1
BCole
1
0
I am having some troubles figuring out how to calculate the force that the driver receives during a collision, I understand the physics of a car hitting a wall very well. but I have troubles calculating the force received when hitting another object in motion, not in a head on collision, but hitting the passengers side door. . any help would be appreciated.
 
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  • #2


If you suppose the cars to be equal in mass and compressibility, it would be like hitting an unyielding wall at one half the speed.
That said, computing the forces is not trivial. Modern cars are designed to absorb impacts by collapsing at a fairly constant resistance, so, after the first metre or so, you can maybe take the force as constant. Then you can divide the KE of the driver by the stopping distance. In practice, the force will tend to rise during the impact.
 

FAQ: Calculating Force of a Side Collision: Help Appreciated

How do you calculate the force of a side collision?

To calculate the force of a side collision, you need to know the mass of the object and the velocity at impact. You can use the formula F = m x a, where F is the force, m is the mass, and a is the acceleration. In a side collision, the acceleration is equal to the change in velocity divided by the time it takes for the collision to occur.

What is the difference between force and impact force?

Force refers to a push or a pull acting on an object, while impact force specifically refers to the force resulting from a collision. In the context of side collisions, impact force is the force that is exerted on the object during the collision.

How does the angle of impact affect the force of a side collision?

The angle of impact can greatly affect the force of a side collision. If the impact is perpendicular to the side of the object, the force will be greater compared to an impact at an angle. This is because a perpendicular impact results in a larger change in velocity and a higher acceleration, thus leading to a greater force.

Can the force of a side collision be calculated without knowing the velocity at impact?

No, the force of a side collision cannot be accurately calculated without knowing the velocity at impact. This is because the velocity at impact is a crucial component in the formula for force. Without this information, the calculated force would be inaccurate.

Are there any other factors that can affect the force of a side collision?

Yes, there are several other factors that can affect the force of a side collision. These include the mass and speed of the other object involved in the collision, the type of material and structure of the objects, and external forces such as friction or air resistance. These factors can all impact the force of the collision and should be taken into consideration when calculating it.

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