Using Newton’s laws of motion, what happens during the car accident to give you Whiplash?
Okay, let’s get gross.
From the physics perspective, momentum is transferred from the offending vehicle to your car. Momentum equals "mv", and since the mass "m" of the car is constant, this means that "v" increases.
The rate at which "v" increases depends upon the violence of the collision. However, let’s say that it happens over some time frame "t". The acceleration "a" equals delta-v (the change in velocity) divided by t².
Now your head is subjected to acceleration just like the rest of the car. The force exerted on your head is given by the equation F=ma, where "m" in this case is the mass of your head and "a" is the acceleration. Your muscles must compensate for this force, or your head will snap back.
(End of serious question… now the fun part)
Your neck has a certain modulus of elasticity. If the force applied to your neck is below the modulus of elasticity then after snapping back your head will bungee forward and plant itself into the steering wheel. Hopefully you are not smoking a pipe at the time.
If the force is above the modulus of elesticity but below the modulus of rupture, your head will just sort of loll backwards at a crazy angle, dangling limply from your neck and stuck between your back and the seat.
If the force is above the modulus of rupture your head will be ripped off and will fly toward the back window.
As your head flies toward the back window, leaving behind a spouting stump, you have a couple of seconds to consider whether the collision with the window will be inelastic or elastic. If it is elastic then your severed head will rebound and end up back in your lap. If on the other hand it is inelastic, your head will deform against the glass like a piece of squished putty, giving the EMT’s something really gross to photograph and hang in their lockers.
"And that is all I have to say about that".
#1 by neoga illinois on December 15th, 2009
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your freaking head rotates backwards like your nodding really hard and fast causing head and neck injury
References :
#2 by Gregg H on December 15th, 2009
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Okay, let’s get gross.
From the physics perspective, momentum is transferred from the offending vehicle to your car. Momentum equals "mv", and since the mass "m" of the car is constant, this means that "v" increases.
The rate at which "v" increases depends upon the violence of the collision. However, let’s say that it happens over some time frame "t". The acceleration "a" equals delta-v (the change in velocity) divided by t².
Now your head is subjected to acceleration just like the rest of the car. The force exerted on your head is given by the equation F=ma, where "m" in this case is the mass of your head and "a" is the acceleration. Your muscles must compensate for this force, or your head will snap back.
(End of serious question… now the fun part)
Your neck has a certain modulus of elasticity. If the force applied to your neck is below the modulus of elasticity then after snapping back your head will bungee forward and plant itself into the steering wheel. Hopefully you are not smoking a pipe at the time.
If the force is above the modulus of elesticity but below the modulus of rupture, your head will just sort of loll backwards at a crazy angle, dangling limply from your neck and stuck between your back and the seat.
If the force is above the modulus of rupture your head will be ripped off and will fly toward the back window.
As your head flies toward the back window, leaving behind a spouting stump, you have a couple of seconds to consider whether the collision with the window will be inelastic or elastic. If it is elastic then your severed head will rebound and end up back in your lap. If on the other hand it is inelastic, your head will deform against the glass like a piece of squished putty, giving the EMT’s something really gross to photograph and hang in their lockers.
"And that is all I have to say about that".
References :
#3 by Dwain Tubeszewski on May 23rd, 2011
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