For example, I want to figure out the impact force on a person inside a free falling elevator.
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One thing you have to appreciate is that when another object, such as an elevator, is moving with other objects the elevator is pushing up on the individual. This is the same with a car, you are being pushed along by the car – you are strapped in to make you a part of the movement as opposed to feeling like your being pushed.
So how do we work out what will happen to the object inside?
In all situations including moving and crashing their is always a conservation of momentum, crashing is literally just “a rapid, unexpected deceleration”.
As such following this principle, unless you are strapped into the body of the elevator the elevator will crash into the ground at the set speed, and then you will crash into the elevator at the set speed. Your phone in your pocket will then crash into you, at the set speed, and that speck of dust on your phone screen, will crash into your phone at that set speed.
If you are not strapped in, your force will always attempt to go into and through the blocking object. If it does not overpower it, you will crumple.
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