Math  /  Algebra

Question4. A car moving at 10 m/s10 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s} crashes into a tree and stops in 0.26 s . Calculate the force the seatbelt exerts on a passenger in the car to bring him to a halt. The mass of the passenger is 70 kg . Would the answer to this question be different if the car with the 70kg70-\mathrm{kg} passenger had collided with a car that has a mass equal to and is traveling in the opposite direction and at the same speed?

Studdy Solution

STEP 1

What is this asking? How much force does a seatbelt exert on a 70 kg person to stop them in 0.26 seconds from an initial speed of 10 m/s?
Also, would the force be different if the car hit another car head-on, both going the same speed? Watch out! Don't forget to consider *Newton's Laws* and how *impulse* relates to *momentum*!

STEP 2

1. Calculate the change in momentum.
2. Determine the impulse.
3. Calculate the force.
4. Analyze the car-on-car collision scenario.

STEP 3

Alright, let's **start** with the *momentum*!
Remember, momentum is how much "oomph" an object has when it's moving.
It's calculated as mass times velocity: p=mvp = mv.

STEP 4

The **initial momentum** of the passenger is \(70 \text{ kg} \cdot 10 m/s10 \text{ m/s} = 700 kgm/s700 \text{ kg} \cdot \text{m/s}\).
Since the passenger comes to a complete stop, their **final momentum** is *zero*!

STEP 5

So, the **change in momentum**, often written as Δp\Delta p, is \(0 \text{ kg} \cdot \text{m/s} - 700 kgm/s700 \text{ kg} \cdot \text{m/s} = 700 kgm/s-700 \text{ kg} \cdot \text{m/s}\).
The negative sign just means the momentum *decreased*.

STEP 6

Now, let's talk about *impulse*!
Impulse is the change in momentum, and it's equal to the force applied multiplied by the time it's applied for: J=Ft=ΔpJ = F \cdot t = \Delta p.

STEP 7

We already know the **change in momentum** is 700 kgm/s-700 \text{ kg} \cdot \text{m/s}, and we know the time the force is applied is **0.26 seconds**.

STEP 8

Now we can **solve for the force**: F=ΔptF = \frac{\Delta p}{t}.

STEP 9

Plugging in our values, we get F=700 kgm/s0.26 s2692.3 NF = \frac{-700 \text{ kg} \cdot \text{m/s}}{0.26 \text{ s}} \approx -2692.3 \text{ N}.
The negative sign indicates the force is in the *opposite direction* of the initial motion, which makes sense since the seatbelt is *stopping* the passenger.

STEP 10

Now, what if the car hit another car head-on, both going the same speed?
The change in momentum for the passenger would still be the same, assuming they still come to a stop in the same amount of time.

STEP 11

Since the change in momentum and the time are the same, the force exerted by the seatbelt would *also* be the same!
It doesn't matter *what* the car crashes into, only how quickly the passenger's momentum changes.

STEP 12

The force the seatbelt exerts on the passenger is approximately 2692.3 N\textbf{2692.3 N}.
The force would be the *same* if the car collided head-on with another car of equal mass and speed.

Was this helpful?

Studdy solves anything!

banner

Start learning now

Download Studdy AI Tutor now. Learn with ease and get all help you need to be successful at school.

ParentsInfluencer programContactPolicyTerms
TwitterInstagramFacebookTikTokDiscord