Impact Force Formula:
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Definition: This calculator estimates the impact force during a car collision based on vehicle mass, velocity change, and collision duration.
Purpose: It helps safety engineers, accident investigators, and physics students understand collision dynamics and safety implications.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The force is calculated by multiplying mass by velocity change, then dividing by the time over which the collision occurs.
Details: Understanding impact forces helps design safer vehicles, evaluate crash test results, and understand injury mechanisms.
Tips: Enter the vehicle mass in kg, velocity change in m/s (speed difference before and after collision), and collision duration in seconds.
Q1: What's a typical collision duration?
A: Most car crashes last between 0.1 to 0.2 seconds, with crumple zones designed to extend this time and reduce forces.
Q2: How does velocity change relate to crash severity?
A: The greater the velocity change (especially sudden deceleration), the higher the impact forces on occupants.
Q3: Why is mass important in crash calculations?
A: Heavier vehicles experience greater impact forces for the same velocity change, but may have more structural strength.
Q4: How does this relate to G-forces?
A: G-force can be calculated by dividing the impact force by the vehicle's weight (mass × 9.81 m/s²).
Q5: What's a survivable impact force?
A: Humans can typically withstand about 50Gs for milliseconds or 20Gs for seconds, but injury risk depends on many factors.