Average force on a 1,500 kg car stopping from 50 km/h in 0.6 m

Answer: average impact force = 241,126.5 N (in kilonewtons 241.127 kN, as multiples of the object's weight 16.4 × weight).

What we know

  • Mass: 1500 kg
  • Impact speed: 50 km/h = 13.88888889 m/s (converted to the unit the formula takes)
  • Stopping distance: 0.6 m

Step by step

Given
m = 1500 kg, v = 13.88888889 m/s, d = 0.6 m
Formula
F = m·v² / (2·d)
Substitute
F = 1500 × 13.88888889² / (2 × 0.6)
Result
F = 241,126.5 N

All results

Average impact force241,126.5 N
In kilonewtons241.127 kN
As multiples of the object's weight16.4 × weight

Open the impact force calculator with these numbers → and change any of them.

The physics

When a moving object is brought to rest, its kinetic energy (½mv²) is absorbed over the stopping distance. Work equals force times distance, so the average force is the energy divided by that distance: F = ½mv² / d. The shorter the stop, the larger the force — which is the whole reason crumple zones, crash mats and packaging exist.

Standard acceleration of gravity →