The Physics of Car Crashes

What is the approximate chemical energy contained in one liter of gasoline?

• 4.1 x 10^6 Joules

• 56 x 10^6 Joules

• 280 x 10^3 Joules

• 11 x 10^6 Joules

Approximately what percentage of the chemical energy from gasoline is converted into kinetic energy of motion in a typical car engine?

• 80%

• 56%

• 20%

• 100%

The kinetic energy of a 2-ton car moving at 60 kilometers per hour is roughly equivalent to the potential energy of what scenario?

• Exploding 1 kg of TNT.

• Powering a toaster for 22 hours.

• Dropping a Stegosaurus from the top of a three-story building.

• Burning five teaspoons of gasoline.

How do crumple zones in modern cars enhance safety during a collision?

• They make the car more rigid, preventing deformation.

• They increase the car's overall mass, improving stability.

• They lengthen the duration of the impact, reducing the intensity of deceleration.

• They convert all kinetic energy into sound energy.