High-speed collisions are terrifying to think about. How far a vehicle goes before coming to a stop depends on the force of the collision and the weight of the vehicle.
How far a vehicle goes after the collision depends on its speed before the collision as well. This is due to something called kinetic energy, which is defined as the energy possessed by a moving body as a result of its motion.
Higher speeds mean higher kinetic energy, and lower speeds mean lower kinetic energy. When two vehicles with similar sizes and weights collide, then both vehicles will come to a stop at roughly the same distance from each other.
Smaller vehicles have less mass, or weight, so they undergo less change in motion when colliding with other vehicles. This means they will travel further before coming to a stop!
However, because they are lighter, they will have more kinetic energy and therefore cause more damage.
Calculate the force of impact
In this situation, the car is going twice as fast as the truck, so we say that the car’s speed is 2 times the speed of the truck.
So, instead of writing down the truck’s speed, write down the car’s speed and you will get the same answer!
The math to figure out how hard these two vehicles collide is the same no matter what vehicle is traveling at what speed. It only cares about their speeds relative to each other.
So, let’s write down some of these numbers: The truck weighs 5 times as much as the car does. And since we said that the truck is going 15 kilometers per hour, then it takes 15 seconds for it to travel 1 kilometer. For the car, it travels 1 kilometer in 3 seconds.
Understand how this collision can be deadly
Even though the truck has the larger vehicle, the car has the higher speed. Because of this, the car will do more damage to the truck than the truck will do to the car.
Because of the way physics works, in a head-on collision, your vehicle will push away whatever vehicle comes into contact with it.
So, when these two vehicles meet head-on, they will both push away each other’s vehicles. Because of this, both vehicles will have to slow down and come to a stop due to friction.
The problem is that because of the difference in speeds, one vehicle will have to stop more quickly than the other. This can lead to one vehicle being pushed into another due to gravity. This is why collisions like these are fatal; one person ends up being thrown out of their vehicle due to gravity pulling them down.
Learn about the consequences of this collision
A lot of people believe that a head-on collision between a large truck and a small car is not as bad as a head-on collision between two similar-sized cars. This is not true!
Both cases result in very similar damage – the vehicles are both destroyed and there are two fatalities. The difference is the injuries sustained by the survivors of the crash.
In fact, because of the difference in mass, injury severity is often higher in the case of two similar-sized cars. The reason for this is that there is less resistance when the cars collide, so their speed does not drop much.
Massive trucks take much longer to stop and have higher momentum, which makes it harder to avoid injuries like spinal cord trauma. Also, there are more chances for residual trauma due to internal bleeding.
Truck vs. car collisions are often tragic
Unfortunately, collisions between trucks and cars are not uncommon. In fact, they’re so common that there’s a name for it: truck-car collision.
These can be particularly tragic as the occupants of the car tend to be civilians with no protective armor or shielding. The car occupants are also typically smaller in size which makes them more vulnerable to injury.
Because trucks are heavier and have higher clearance, the people who operate them need to be trained in how to handle these situations safely. For instance, they need to know how to maneuver the vehicle so that it does not overturn.
However, in cases where both vehicles end up crashing into each other, there is not much that can be done to prevent serious injuries or death.
Here’s what happens in a head-on collision
A truck going 15 km/h has a head-on collision with a small car going 30 km/h. Let’s look at how this collision happens.
The truck is much heavier and bigger, so it stays in the same direction as it is going. The smaller car is turned to pieces by the impact.
Since the cars are going in opposite directions, they both have to be pushed in the opposite direction after impact. This is why you see the truck move backwards and the car is destroyed.
Many people don’t know that when two cars collide, it’s not just two vehicles that hit each other. Both cars also strike something called “the barrier effect” which are all of the parts of each car that go forward after impact.
This includes everything from the front and back wheels, to the interior components like computers and air bags.
Cars need to be repaired after a crash like this
It’s normal for cars to need some sort of repair after a minor crash. In most cases, the damage is limited to the vehicle itself.
In this scenario, both vehicles would need repair due to the amount of damage caused. The truck would need repairs due to the left side being crushed in and the fact that it is heavier than the car.
The car would need repairs due to it being flipped and having internal damage. Both vehicles would cost roughly the same amount to repair, depending on what needs done and what materials are used during the process.
Something important to note is that heavier vehicles tend to be more expensive to repair because of the material needed to fix them and how much work must be done on them. Repairing them quickly can be an issue as well because of supply issues.
Understanding car crash injuries
Car crashes can result in a number of injuries, some more serious than others. Some include shoulder injuries, neck injuries, back injuries, and even nerve damage.
Shoulders are protected by clavicle bones and muscles and tendons. Clavicle bones can be fractured or dislocated, muscles and tendons can be torn, and all of these can result in limited movement or pain.
Neck vertebrae can be twisted or sprained resulting in pain or limited movement. Back vertebrae can be fractured or sprained resulting in limited movement as well.
Nerve damage is very serious and can result in loss of feeling or function in areas of the body. All of these injuries vary in severity depending on the crash.
Leg injuries are common in car crashes
Although internal injuries can be severe, external injuries can be just as worrisome. In fact, it’s common for people to worry more about damage outside of the body than inside of the body when it comes to car accidents.
Leg injuries are one of the most common types of injuries after a car crash. Road rash and fractures are the most common leg injuries. Road rash is skin damage caused by scraping along a surface. Fractures are broken bones that occur as a result of the impact.
Car crashes can also cause nerve damage in the legs. This type of injury is difficult to diagnose and treat, which is why it is important to talk to a doctor immediately after an accident. Diagnosis and treatment can help with recovery, so it is important to not hesitate to speak with someone after a car crash.
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