Created By : Naaz Fatima

Reviewed By : Phani Ponnapalli

Last Updated : May 18, 2023


The Car Crash Calculator is an online application that calculates the g-force you'll experience in a car accident. Simply give the inputs in the necessary fields of the input section as per the applicable mode, i.e. before, during, and after a car crash, and you will receive the relevant outputs.

Force of Impact Definition and Formula

The overall force acting on an object at the time of collision is known as the force of impact. The law of conservation of energy concept can be used to calculate the Impact Force Equation. A moving item has kinetic energy at first, but this is lost as it collides. The work done by the impact force should be matched by the change in kinetic energy to meet the conservation of energy law.

Impact Force Equation

Impact Force can be calculated using the formula F = m x v² / (2 x d)

  • Where, F = avg. impact force
  • m = mass of an object
  • v = initial speed of the object
  • d = distance travelled at the time of the collision
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The average impact force is reduced by increasing the distance travelled during the encounter. If we construct the formula using the time of collision t rather than the distance d, we can better grasp the impact force. F = v x m / t

The formula above is a subset of the impulse and momentum formula. The average impact force will be reduced if the collision period is extended. Consider jumping from a certain height directly onto the ground in one case and onto a trampoline in the other. Falling on the ground takes less time than falling on a trampoline since the moment of collision is longer because it is a flat surface.

It's similar to a vehicle accident. Cars are built to collapse on impact, lengthening the duration of contact and minimising the force of impact. This is why they can't be too long-lasting.

How do you calculate Impact Force or G-Force in a car accident?

The above Impact Forces are for the scenario of perfect objects colliding. In reality, though, force during a collision might be fairly large. During an automobile accident, you can make an educated guess about the impact force.

Consider the case where a driver in a car travelling at mph hits a tree and comes to a complete halt. The driver then pushes forward due to inertial force until he can be prevented by the impact on the steering column or windscreen. Because none of the objects is contractible enough, the stopping distance is quite low.

How Do Airbags and Seatbelts Protect You?

The essential function of seat belts and airbags is the same. They're both used to increase the collision distance. Assume you are driving at a particular speed and you collide with an item while wearing a seat belt. When the impact force is delivered to the seat belt, it will stretch.

To summarise, a seat belt prevents the body from colliding with hard objects in the automobile and also lessens the impact force imposed on you by lengthening the time between collisions. For further protection, airbags are installed in front of the drivers.

For more concepts check out physicscalculatorpro.com to get quick answers by using this free tool.

FAQs on Car Crash

1. What is the formula for calculating crash force?

Multiplying the mass of the crashing object by its deceleration gets the amount of force involved in a collision.


2. What is the formula for calculating the impact force of a car?

Divide the kinetic energy by the distance to get the impact force.


3. When does a car accident turn fatal?

At speeds of 70 mph or more, a fatal car accident is virtually unavoidable. Driving at a high rate makes it more difficult for the driver to keep control of the car.


4. Is colliding with a wall worse than colliding with a person?

The collisions between two identical cars travelling at 50 mph colliding absolutely head-on would be significantly worse than if one of the cars travelling at 50 mph collides with a brick wall. It's only marginally worse. The reason for this is that even a brick wall will give in the event of a collision.


5. What happens to your body during a car accident?

Your body is forcibly rocked after an automobile accident, resulting in damages and injuries. Broken bones, burns, head and neck trauma, brain injuries, and back and spinal cord damage are among the most common injuries.