/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 26 \(\textbf{Prevention of Hip Frac... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

91Ó°ÊÓ

\(\textbf{Prevention of Hip Fractures.}\) Falls resulting in hip fractures are a major cause of injury and even death to the elderly. Typically, the hip’s speed at impact is about 2.0 m/s. If this can be reduced to 1.3 m/s or less, the hip will usually not fracture. One way to do this is by wearing elastic hip pads. (a) If a typical pad is 5.0 cm thick and compresses by 2.0 cm during the impact of a fall, what constant acceleration (in m/s\(^{2}\) and in \(\text{g}\)’s) does the hip undergo to reduce its speed from 2.0 m/s to 1.3 m/s? (b) The acceleration you found in part (a) may seem rather large, but to assess its effects on the hip, calculate how long it lasts.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The constant acceleration is -57.75 m/s\(^{2}\) (about -5.89 g's) and lasts about 0.012 seconds.

Step by step solution

01

Identify known values

We know: Initial velocity \( v_i = 2.0 \, \text{m/s} \), Final velocity \( v_f = 1.3 \, \text{m/s} \), Compression distance \( d = 0.02 \, \text{m} \) (compresses by 2.0 cm).
02

Use kinematic equation

The kinematic equation \( v_f^2 = v_i^2 + 2a d \) can be used to find the acceleration \( a \). Substitute the known values into the equation: \( (1.3)^2 = (2.0)^2 + 2a(0.02) \).
03

Solve for acceleration

Rearrange the equation to \( a = \frac{(1.3)^2 - (2.0)^2}{2 \times 0.02} \). Calculate: \( a = \frac{1.69 - 4}{0.04} = \frac{-2.31}{0.04} = -57.75 \, \text{m/s}^2 \).
04

Convert acceleration to g's

To convert \( a \) from m/s\(^2\) to g's, divide by \( g = 9.81 \, \text{m/s}^2 \). Thus, \( a = \frac{-57.75}{9.81} \approx -5.89 \, \text{g} \).
05

Calculate time duration of acceleration

Use the equation \( v_f = v_i + at \) to solve for \( t \). Rearrange the equation to \( t = \frac{v_f - v_i}{a} \). Substituting in values: \( t = \frac{1.3 - 2.0}{-57.75} \approx 0.012 \, \text{seconds} \).

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Understanding Constant Acceleration
Constant acceleration occurs when the rate of change of velocity remains unchanged over time. This means the acceleration is uniform throughout the motion. In our problem, we're focusing on the moment when a hip pad slows down the fall of a person to prevent a fracture.
In the scenario of the falling hip, compression of the pad results in a constant acceleration that changes the velocity from 2.0 m/s to 1.3 m/s. We calculate this by assuming the acceleration does not waver while the pad compresses. This understanding is crucial when analyzing how effective pads can be in reducing impact forces during a fall.
  • Constant acceleration can simplify complex motions.
  • It helps in designing safety measures like hip pads.
  • Allows use of straightforward equations to model real-world events.
Recognizing constant acceleration's role in the scenario helps us understand the padding's function. It converts a sudden stop into a slightly protracted stop, lowering impact velocity and, thereby, injury risk.
The Role of Kinematic Equations
Kinematic equations are mathematical formulas used to describe motion in terms of displacement, velocity, acceleration, and time. In this exercise, they help us figure out how much acceleration the pad provides.
We specifically use the kinematic equation: \[ v_f^2 = v_i^2 + 2a d \],where- \( v_f \) is the final velocity,- \( v_i \) is the initial velocity,- \( a \) is the acceleration, and- \( d \) is the displacement.
This formula derives acceleration when we have changes in speed over a known distance. It's very handy in cases where constant acceleration is assumed, like the cushioning effect of hip pads.
  • They enable precise calculations using initial conditions and some known values.
  • Allows us to deduce time, velocity, or acceleration involved in a motion.
  • Helps predict outcomes of safety measures like hip pads before physical testing.
In essence, kinematic equations bridge theoretical physics and practical safety engineering, supporting design decisions that safeguard health.
Importance of Hip Fracture Prevention
Preventing hip fractures is vital, especially among the elderly, due to risks like hospitalization and decreased mobility.
When a person falls, the force at which their hip hits the ground can mean the difference between a bruise and a fracture. By reducing the impact speed with mechanisms like hip pads, the likelihood of injury reduces significantly.
  • Allows elderly to maintain independence longer.
  • Decreases healthcare costs associated with injuries.
  • Improves life quality by reducing recovery times.
Hip fracture prevention methods like padded clothing or hip pads are simple yet powerful. They employ basic kinematic principles to diffuse potentially harmful forces by slowing down the body's impact speed, offering a practical and effective safety solution.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

A jet fighter pilot wishes to accelerate from rest at a constant acceleration of 5\(g\) to reach Mach 3 (three times the speed of sound) as quickly as possible. Experimental tests reveal that he will black out if this acceleration lasts for more than 5.0 s. Use 331 m/s for the speed of sound. (a) Will the period of acceleration last long enough to cause him to black out? (b) What is the greatest speed he can reach with an acceleration of 5\(g\) before he blacks out?

A brick is dropped (zero initial speed) from the roof of a building. The brick strikes the ground in 1.90 s. You may ignore air resistance, so the brick is in free fall. (a) How tall, in meters, is the building? (b) What is the magnitude of the brick's velocity just before it reaches the ground? (c) Sketch \(a_y-t, v_y-t\), and \(y-t\) graphs for the motion of the brick.

A Honda Civic travels in a straight line along a road. The car's distance \(x\) from a stop sign is given as a function of time \(t\) by the equation \(x(t) = \alpha{t^2} - \beta{t^3}\), where \(\alpha =\) 1.50 m/s\(^2\) and \(\beta =\) 0.0500 m/s\(^3\). Calculate the average velocity of the car for each time interval: (a) \(t =\) 0 to \(t =\) 2.00 s; (b) \(t =\) 0 to \(t =\) 4.00 s; (c) \(t =\) 2.00 s to \(t =\) 4.00 s.

It has been suggested, and not facetiously, that life might have originated on Mars and been carried to the earth when a meteor hit Mars and blasted pieces of rock (perhaps containing primitive life) free of the Martian surface. Astronomers know that many Martian rocks have come to the earth this way. (For instance, search the Internet for "ALH 84001.") One objection to this idea is that microbes would have had to undergo an enormous lethal acceleration during the impact. Let us investigate how large such an acceleration might be. To escape Mars, rock fragments would have to reach its escape velocity of 5.0 km/s, and that would most likely happen over a distance of about 4.0 m during the meteor impact. (a) What would be the acceleration (in m/s\(^2\) and \(g'\)s) of such a rock fragment, if the acceleration is constant? (b) How long would this acceleration last? (c) In tests, scientists have found that over 40\(\text{%}\) of \(\textit{Bacillus subtilis}\) bacteria survived after an acceleration of 450,000\(g\). In light of your answer to part (a), can we rule out the hypothesis that life might have been blasted from Mars to the earth?

During your summer internship for an aerospace company, you are asked to design a small research rocket. The rocket is to be launched from rest from the earth's surface and is to reach a maximum height of 960 m above the earth's surface. The rocket's engines give the rocket an upward acceleration of 16.0 m/s\(^2\) during the time \(T\) that they fire. After the engines shut off, the rocket is in free fall. Ignore air resistance. What must be the value of \(T\) in order for the rocket to reach the required altitude?

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.