Question

1. a car suddenly stops, and a passenger lunges forward. this scenario demonstrates the concept of momentum and impulse. what would be a design solution to minimize the net force on the passenger during such an event? reducing the mass of the passenger. increasing the rigidity of the cars interior. designing a crumple zone to increase the time of impact. decreasing the stopping distance.

Explanation:

Step1: Recall impulse - force relationship

The impulse - momentum theorem is $J = F_{net}\Delta t=\Delta p$. To minimize $F_{net}$, we need to increase $\Delta t$ when $\Delta p$ is constant.

Step2: Analyze each option

• Reducing the mass of the passenger doesn't directly affect the force on the passenger during stopping related to the impulse - force concept here.
• Increasing the rigidity of the car's interior will decrease the time of impact $\Delta t$, increasing $F_{net}$.
• Designing a crumple zone increases the time of impact $\Delta t$. Since $\Delta p$ is fixed in a given collision situation, increasing $\Delta t$ will decrease $F_{net}$ according to $F_{net}=\frac{\Delta p}{\Delta t}$.
• Decreasing the stopping distance will decrease $\Delta t$ and increase $F_{net}$.

Answer:

Designing a crumple zone to increase the time of impact.