Question

The sensor in the torso of a crash test dummy records the magnitude znd direction of the net force acting on the dummy.If the dummy is thrown forward with a force of 130.0N while simultandously being hit from the side wigh a force of 4500.0N,what force will the sensor report

Answer 1

Here in the given situation two forces are acting on the dummy from two perpendicular directions

Since force is a vector quantity so we need to add two or more forces by vector addition method

Now here we know that two forces are perpendicular to each other

So we will use Pythagoras theorem

$F_{net} = \sqrt{F_1^2 + F_2^2}$

given that

$F_1 = 130.0 N$

$F_2 = 4500.0 N$

now plug in all in the above equation

$F_{net} = \sqrt{130^2 + 4500^2}$

$F_{net} = 4501.9 N$

So the sensor will report net force as 4501.9 N