Question

A car is being tested for safety by colliding it with a brick wall.The 1300 kg car is initially driving towards the wall at a speedof 15 m/s, and after colliding with the wall the car movesaway from the wall at 2 m/s. If the car is in contact with thewall for 0.5 s, calculate the average force exerted on the carby the wall.

Answer 1

44200 N

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the average force exerted on the car, we will use the following equation

`\begin{gathered} Ft=\Delta p \\ Ft=m(v_f-v_i) \end{gathered}`

Where F is the average force, t is the time, m is the mass, vf is the final velocity and vi is the initial velocity of the car.

Replacing t = 0.5s, m = 1300 kg, vf = -2 m/s, and vi = 15 m/s and solving for F, we get

`\begin{gathered} F(0.5s)=(1300\text{ kg\rparen\lparen-2 m/s - 15 m/s\rparen} \\ F(0.5s)=(1300\text{ kg\rparen\lparen-17 m/s\rparen} \\ F(0.5s)=-22100\text{ kg m/s} \\ F=\frac{-22100\text{ kg m/s}}{0.5\text{ s}} \\ F=-44200\text{ N} \end{gathered}`

Therefore, the average force exerted on the car by the wall was 44200 N