Question

To cut down on injuries, a highway guardrail is designed to be moved a maximum of 0.05 meters when struck by a car. What is the value of the force constant of the material in the guardrail if it is to withstand the impact of a 1250-kg car traveling at 4.16 m/s ?

Answer 1

216.32kN

Step-by-step explanation:

Force can be expressed according to the formula;

Force = mass ×acceleration

Given

Mass = 1250kg

Velocity = 4.16m/s

Distance = 0.05m

We can get the acceleration first using the equation of motion

v² = u²+2as

4.16² = 0²+2a(0.05)

17.3056 = 0.1a

a = 17.3056/0.1

a = 173.056m/s²

Get the force required

Force = 1250×173.056

Force = 216,320N

Force = 216.32kN

Hence the force constant of the material is 216.32kN