Applying Newton's second law of motion to a vehicle traveling 70 miles per hour, crashing into which of the following would transfer the most force to the patient?
A) Bridge abutment
B) Shrubbery
C) A body of water
D) Signpost

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Newton's second law of motion states that force is equal to mass times acceleration (F=ma). In this scenario, the vehicle has a certain mass (which we'll assume to be constant) and is traveling at a certain velocity (70 miles per hour). When the vehicle crashes into an object, the force that is transferred to the patient inside the vehicle is the force required to stop the vehicle. Since the mass and velocity of the vehicle are constant, the force required to stop the vehicle will depend on the object it crashes into.

Of the options given, a bridge abutment would transfer the most force to the patient. This is because a bridge abutment is a solid, immovable object that is capable of exerting a large amount of force on the vehicle. When the vehicle crashes into the bridge abutment, the force required to stop the vehicle will be very high, which means that the force transferred to the patient will also be very high.

In contrast, shrubbery and a body of water are not solid objects, and are therefore not capable of exerting as much force on the vehicle. A signpost may be solid, but it is likely to be less sturdy than a bridge abutment, so it would not transfer as much force to the patient as a bridge abutment would.

Applying Newton's Second Law of Motion to a Vehicle Traveling