Question

A 2500 kg car traveling at 30 m/s hits a utility pole and comes to rest in 0.26 seconds. what force is experienced by the car?

Answer 1

`F = 2.88*10^5 N`

Explanation:

This is an impulse question. The impulse the car received equals the change in momentum.

`Deltap = "ending momentum - initial momentum"`

`Deltap = 0 - 2500 kg * 30 m/s = 75,000 kg*m/s`

Impulse is also equal to force times the time duration of the force.

`F*t = Deltap`

`F*0.26 s = 75,000 kg*m/s`
`F = (75,000 kg*m/s)/(0.26 s) = 288,462 kg*m/s^2`

`F = 288,462 N ~= 2.88*10^5 N`

I hope this helps,
Steve