Which individual would experience the greatest force of impact in a collision?

In a collision, the force of impact is influenced by both the mass of the individual and their speed at the moment of the collision. The formula that describes the impact force can be simplified to recognize that it is proportional to both mass and velocity.

The individual with the greatest force of impact would be the one who, when considering both weight and speed, produces the highest result.

In this case, the 150 lb. woman traveling at 30 mph experiences a significant combination of weight and speed. When you multiply her weight by her speed (150 lbs x 30 mph), this gives a considerable force that would be felt upon impact.

Although the 35 lb. infant traveling at 75 mph has a very high speed, their lightweight results in a lower overall force when calculated against their mass. Similarly, while the child at 55 mph and the 200 lb. man at 20 mph both present substantial force scenarios, neither can match the combination of weight and speed that the woman has at 30 mph.

This analysis demonstrates that both mass and velocity are critical factors in assessing the force experienced during a collision, affirming that among the choices provided, the individual who would experience the greatest force of impact is indeed the 150 lb.