Car Crash Force Equation:
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The car crash force equation calculates the average impact force during a collision by dividing the kinetic energy by the stopping distance. This helps understand the severity of a crash and potential injuries.
The calculator uses the equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation shows that impact force is inversely proportional to stopping distance - longer stopping distances reduce peak impact forces.
Details: Calculating impact force helps in vehicle safety design, understanding crash dynamics, and assessing potential injury risks in accidents.
Tips: Enter kinetic energy in Joules and stopping distance in meters. All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: How is kinetic energy calculated in car crashes?
A: KE = ½mv², where m is mass (kg) and v is velocity (m/s). For cars, this is typically calculated from speed and vehicle weight.
Q2: What affects stopping distance in crashes?
A: Factors include vehicle crumple zones, airbags, braking systems, and collision objects (e.g., concrete wall vs. deformable barrier).
Q3: What are typical impact forces in car crashes?
A: Forces vary widely but can range from 20,000 N in minor collisions to over 100,000 N in severe crashes.
Q4: How does this relate to injury risk?
A: Higher impact forces generally correlate with greater injury risk, though human tolerance varies by body region.
Q5: Can this be used for pedestrian impacts?
A: The same physics applies, but pedestrian impacts involve additional factors like body geometry and impact duration.