Since F = ma, if a car traveling at constant velocity hits you, does it technically exert a "force" on you if there's no acceleration?
2007-11-17 15:14:38 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
yes, even the car doesn't accelerate at that moment, but the car have been accelerated by the force (to a constant velocity ) and "assort" kinetic energy.
so when the car hit you, it will exert a "part of force" to you !
2007-11-17 15:23:41 · answer #1 · answered by Beautiful Dreamer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you are hit by the car, it's velocity is greater than your velocity. You are accelerated from your velocity to the velocity of the car.
The force applied to you is your mass times the acceleration you just experienced.
2007-11-17 23:28:11 · answer #2 · answered by David M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Though the car is not accelerating, because of its velocity it has a momentum which will be subject to a change when it hits you, resulting in its changed velocity and your status of motion. This change is equivalent to acceleration and hence amounts to a force. This subject is studied under collision of objects and resolved using Conservation of Momentum.
2007-11-17 23:28:31 · answer #3 · answered by Venkat R 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
F in this case is the force causing the deceleration the car makes as it hits your body, and the resulting acceleration your body makes as it is knocked into the air as the car transfers momentum to you as it strikes you.
2007-11-17 23:25:08 · answer #4 · answered by Steve E 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The total force is divided equally to you and the car. You get the worst of it because you have less mass. Its like if you hit a fly-you get half the force and the fly gets the other half. And the result---?
2007-11-17 23:50:59 · answer #5 · answered by jim m 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋