Car Design and Safety

Created by: alexdakota
Created on: 27-04-15 21:34

Regenerative Braking Systems

-when you apply the brakes, work is done
-the brakes reduce the kinetic energy of the car by transferring it into heat energy (more traditional braking systems)

Regenerative Braking Systems:
-used in some electrical and hybrid cars
-brakes --> put the vehicle's motor in reverse so the motor is running backwards and the wheels are slowed
-the motor acts as an electric generator- it converts kinetic energy into electrical energy which is stored as chemical energy in the vehicle's battery

Advantage:
-it stores energy rather than wasting it

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Cars are designed to convert kinetic energy safely

If a car crashes, it will slow down very quickly

^So, a lot of kinetic energy is converted into other forms of energy in a short amount of time- dangerous for the people inside the car

Big change in mometum over a very short time, huge forces experienced

Car designs convert kinetic energy in a way that is safest for the car's occupants

^increasing the time over which mometum changes happen- lessens force on passengers

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Crumple Zones

-at the front and back of the car, crumple on impact

-the car's kinetic energy is converted into other forms of energy by the car body as it changes shape

-they increase the impact time, which means the force produced by the change in mometum is decreased

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Side Impact Bars

-strong metal tubes fitted into car door panels

-they help direct the kinetic energy of the crash away from the passengers to other areas of the car, such as crumple zones

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Seat Belts

-stretch slighly and so increase the time taken for the wearer to stop

-this reduces the forces acting on the chest

-some of the kinetic energy of the wearer is absorbed by the seat belt stretching

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Air Bags

-slow you down more gradually

-prevent you from hitting hard surfaces inside the car

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Cars have different power ratings

-the size and design of car engines determine how powerful they are

-the more powerful a car engine, the more energy it transfers from its fuel every second and so the faster its stop speed can be

-designed to be aerodynamic- shaped in such a way that air flows easily and smoothly past them- minimising their air resistance

-cars reach their top speed when the resistive force equals the driving force provided by the engine. So, with less air resistance to overcome, the car can reach a higher speed before this happens. Aerodynamic cars have higher top speeds

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Comments

turbomadness

Report Fri 24th May, 2019 @ 09:57

good for learning about car design structural safety

OlgaV

Report Tue 26th July, 2022 @ 19:10

Hi everyone, safety is paramount, so check your car regularly for breakdowns. Recently my car broke down and I needed help, I visited the suspension shop and I didn't regret, I found here quality parts for my car also at affordable prices!

Albina1223

Report Thu 9th March, 2023 @ 12:46

The article on car design and safety provides valuable insights into the technological advancements that have improved the safety and design of modern cars. The incorporation of features such as airbags, anti-lock brakes, and electronic stability control has revolutionized the automotive industry, making cars safer and more reliable. However, the article fails to mention the role of luxury car rentals such as LuxeSpeed in providing the latest technology in car design and safety to the average consumer. With LuxeSpeed, people can now experience the latest advancements in automotive technology and design without having to purchase a luxury car. The convenience and accessibility of LuxeSpeed services make it a game-changer in the car rental industry.

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