Force vs. Time: Why Impact Time Matters
Concrete Wall Collision
Duration: 0.1 s
Peak Force: 60,000 N
Impulse: 6,000 N·s
Crumple Zone + Airbag
Duration: 0.5 s
Peak Force: 12,000 N
Impulse: 6,000 N·s
Key Insight: Both scenarios have the SAME impulse (same change in momentum),
but extending the collision time by 5× reduces the peak force by 5×.
This is why airbags and crumple zones save lives!