Problem 4.12: A truck and car collision


Please wait for the animation to completely load.

A large 2000-kg truck and a small compact car collide head-on as shown in the animation (position is given in meters and time is given in seconds). Assume the collision takes place in 0.05 seconds. Restart.

  1. Describe the force on each vehicle before, during, and after the collision. Be sure to estimate the magnitudes of these forces and give their directions.
  2. Which vehicle, the car or the truck, experiences the greater force during the collision?

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