A truck traveling at 80 mph runs into a bridge abutment and crumples for 0.8 m before coming to a full stop. If we estimate the process as constant deceleration motion, what is the average force exerted on the car, with mass 3500 kg, during the collision process

Question

Jeremiah Rangel

Physics

15 August, 05:30

A truck traveling at 80 mph runs into a bridge abutment and crumples for 0.8 m before coming to a full stop. If we estimate the process as constant deceleration motion, what is the average force exerted on the car, with mass 3500 kg, during the collision process

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Answers (1)

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Lester · Answer 1

U = 80mph = 35.76m/s

S = 0.8m

M = 3500kg

To find the deceleration, we use equation of motion to calculate that

V² = u² + 2as

But v = 0

0 = u² + 2as

-U² = 2as

a = - u² / 2s

a = - (35.76) ² / (2 * 0.8)

a = 1278.78 / 1.6 = 799.24 m/s²

The force exerted on the truck during deceleration is equal to the summation of all the forces acting on the truck.

∑F = m. ⃗a

-F = 3500 * 799.24

F = - 2797331.25N

F = - 2797.33kN

F = - 2.797MN.