A 60-kg person is traveling in a car moving at 16 m/s, when the car hits a barrier. The person is not wearing a seat belt, but is stopped by an air bag in a time interval of 0.20 s. Determine the average force that the air bag exerts on the person?

1 Answer
Oct 6, 2016

#vec F=-4800" "N#

#"Negative sign means opposite direction."#

Explanation:

#vec F* Delta t:"impulse"#
#m*Delta vec v:"change of momentum"#

#vec F* Delta t=m* Delta vec v#

#vec F:"Force"#

#Delta t:"Time interval. "(0.20 s)#

#m:"mass of person. "(60 kg)#

#Delta v=(v_f-v_i)#

#v_f:"final velocity of person. "(v_f=0)#

#v_i:"initial velocity of person. "(v_i=16" "m/s"#

#vec F*0.2=60(0-16)#

#vec F*0.2=60*(-16)#

#vec F*0.2=-960#

#vec F=-960/(0.20)#

#vec F=-4800" "N#