How much force was applied by the horse?

In summary, a 220 lb man was kicked by a 1800 lb draft horse and flew 15 ft in the air, hitting a parked van in 1 second. Despite the van shaking upon impact, the horse did not move. If this were a real event, the force needed to achieve this would be easier to measure as impulse or work rather than just force.
  • #1
Rose Gardener
8
1


So the horse kicked the chubby guy, he was lifted off the ground, flew, and hit the parked car. Let's assume:

  1. the chubby man was 220 lbs (roughly 100Kgs),
  2. the distance he "traveled" was 15 ft (roughly 5M).
  3. Time it took the guy to hit the van after being kicked by the horse of 1 sec.
  4. Being a draft horse, it may weight about 1800 lbs, plus the officer, so about 2000lbs (900Kgs)
How much force was the horse's kick? Notice how the van shook upon impact but the horse hard moved when it kicked.
 
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  • #2
It looks fake to me. So I will say 0 N.
 
  • #3
Dale said:
It looks fake to me. So I will say 0 N.
It was from a movie, so yes, fake. But let's assume it did happen. How much force would be needed?
 
  • #4
Rose Gardener said:
It was from a movie, so yes, fake. But let's assume it did happen. How much force would be needed?
Force by itself is not a very good parameter for a blow or collision. It is easier to quantify the impulse (force integrated over time) or work (force integrated over distance) that were applied to the man by the blow. Either one can be determined based on the man's mass and the velocity resulting from the blow.

If you must know the force you can then divide momentum by time or energy by distance to get the associated time-weighted or distance-weighted average force.
 
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FAQ: How much force was applied by the horse?

1. What is force?

Force is a physical quantity that describes the interaction between two objects. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. In simple terms, force is a push or a pull that causes an object to accelerate.

2. How is force measured?

Force is measured in units called Newtons (N). A Newton is defined as the amount of force needed to accelerate a mass of 1 kilogram (kg) at a rate of 1 meter per second squared (m/s²). Other common units of force include pounds (lb) and kilograms-force (kgf).

3. What factors affect the amount of force a horse can apply?

The amount of force a horse can apply depends on several factors, including its size, weight, and physical condition. Additionally, the terrain, the type of surface the horse is running on, and the angle of its hooves can also affect the amount of force it can generate.

4. How do scientists measure the force applied by a horse?

Scientists can measure the force applied by a horse in several ways. One common method is to use a device called a dynamometer, which can measure the force exerted by an object. Another method is to use motion capture technology to track the movements of the horse and calculate the force applied based on its acceleration.

5. Can the force applied by a horse be increased?

Yes, the force applied by a horse can be increased through training and conditioning. Just like humans, horses can build strength and endurance through exercise and a proper diet. Additionally, using specialized equipment such as horseshoes and training aids can also help increase the force a horse can apply.

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