Explaining Newton’s Laws of Motion by Examining a Car Accident

Are you curious about the science behind car accidents? In this article, we will delve into the intriguing topic of “Explaining Newton’s Laws of Motion by Examining a Car Accident.” By understanding the fundamental principles of Newton’s laws, the role of friction, and the different types of collisions, you can gain valuable insights into the dynamics of car crashes.

We will explore how these concepts influence the severity of damage and injuries. To ensure you’re protected on the road, it’s important to have the right insurance coverage. Enter your zip code now to compare rates from the best insurance providers and secure your peace of mind.

Isaac Newton’s Three Laws of Motion

To understand the effects of a car accident, you first need to understand a core concept discovered by Sir Isaac Newton. Born on December 25, 1643, he attended the Free Grammar School in England and then went on to study at Trinity College in Cambridge. In college, he developed an interest in math, physics and astronomy and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1665. His attempt to continue his education was postponed by the plague which caused the college to temporarily shut down and force Newton back home. In 1666, he was only 23 years old when he first started developing theories related to gravitation. After Trinity College reopened, Isaac Newton was able to accept a fellowship in order to complete his masters degree. By 1686, he presented his laws of motion in the Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica or Principia. This three book series outlines his following three laws:

1. An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted on by an unbalanced force. An object in motion continues in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.
2. Acceleration is produced when a force acts on a mass. The greater the mass (of the object being accelerated) the greater the amount of force needed (to accelerate the object).
3. For every action there is an equal and opposite re-action.

To learn more about Sir Isaac Newton and his three laws of motion, please visit these sites:

• Rice.edu – Newton’s Laws of Motion
• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum – Newton’s Laws of Motion: The Rules of the Cosmic Road
• Ducksters.com – Physics for Kids: Laws of Motions Explained
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – Q&A: Why are Newton’s Laws of Motion Important?
• MakeMeGenius YouTube Video – Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion
• Biography.com – Isaac Newton Biography
• Encyclopedia Britannica – Sir Isaac Newton: English Physicist and Mathematician

Static and Kinetic Friction

Friction is an important element to understand when examining the physics of a car accident. Friction is simply the force between a surface or object as it moves over another. There are two types of friction, static and kinetic. Static friction is the force needed to get an object moving from a resting position. You can think of a car tire on a road. The two objects exert friction against each other and that force must be overcome to make the tire turn, moving the car. Kinetic friction is the force needed to keep an object in motion. Using the same example of a tire on a road, there is still friction between the road and tire so to keep the tire and car moving, additional force must be maintained or else the tire will stop turning and the car will stop. Read more about static and kinetic friction:

• University of Alaska Fairbanks – Static and Kinetic Friction
• JeePhysics – Introduction to Friction
• NYU Polytechnic University – Static and Kinetic Friction (PPT)
• Khan Academy (Video) – Examples of Static and Kinetic Friction
• Math and Physics Course for Homeschool Students – Car Braking and ABS (Video)
• schoolphysics – Friction and Drag in Cars
• Ask a Physicist! – Questions & Answers
• Virginia.edu – Frictional Forces Explained

Types of Collisions

When mentioning types of collisions, we’re not referring to “head on” or “single vehicle”, but rather the two general types in physics: elastic and inelastic. An elastic collision is one where two objects collide and then “bounce” apart such as what happens when to rubber balls come into contact with one another. An inelastic collision is one where the objects collide but do not bounce away from each other. An example of this is a car ramming into a wall. Certain safety features of automobiles have been created to utilize these forces such as your bumper. At low speeds, the bumper is designed to bump the object that is impacted without causing damage. At higher speeds, instead of bumping the object that was hit, the force will crumple the bumper in order to release some of the energy from the collision. Here are additional resources to help better understand the different types of collisions:

• Boston University: Physics Department – Collisions and Elasticity
• Rochester Institute of Technology – Collisions: Elastic and Inelastic
• Sacred Hearty University – Conservation of Momentum in Collisions
• Eastern Illinois University – Linear Momentum
• Physics Instructional Resource Association – Physics Test/Lecture Drawings
• Bozeman Science – Elastic and Inelastic Collisions (Video)
• IUPUI Department of Physics – Energy, Momentum and Driving

Effects of Collisions on People

Passengers in a vehicle that is involved in an accident are impacted by several forces. These forces can be calculated using physics, tested with crash test dummies and computer simulations and integrated into new safety features. Below are several resources that provide more information about the effects of collisions on people:

• The University of Tennessee’s Tickle College of Engineering – Seatbelt Physics
• Physics Zone – Old Car Crash Test
• illumin – The Engineering Behind Automotive Airbags
• Department of Phsyics and Astronomy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Seat Belts and Airbags (PDF)
• Car Seats For The Littles – Why Rear Facing: the Science Junkie’s Guide
• Teacher Tube – Car accident explained with Physics
• Regents of the University of Minnesota – What happens to the passengers in an accident?
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute – Understanding Car Crashes: When Physics Meets Biology

Resources for Students and Educators

• University of Florida – Newton’s Laws – Activities for Students
• CPALMS – Lesson Plans – Newton’s First Law of Motion
• NeoK12 – Laws of Motions: Educational Videos and Games
• MrMont.com – Physics Simulations and Games
• TeachEngineering.com – Lesson: Crash! Bang!
• MT.gov – Lab Lesson Plan: Conservation of Momentum (PDF)
• CK-12 – Crash Test Dummy Simulation