Chapter 4: The Physics of Trauma (PHTLS)
Newton's first law of motion - ANS A body at rest will remain at rest and a moody in motion will
remain in motion unless acted on by an outside force
Law of conservation of energy - ANS A law of physics stating that energy cannot be created or
destroyed by only changed in form
Newton's second law of motion - ANS A fundamental law of physics stating that the
acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the magnitude of the force applied, in the
same direction as the force applied, and inversely proportional to the mass of the object
Newton's third law of motion - ANS A fundamental law of physics stating that for every action,
there is an equal and opposite reaction
Kinetic energy (KE) - ANS Energy available from movement. Function of the weight of an item
and its speed: KE = 1/2 of the mass x the velocity squared.
Stopping distance - ANS The distance over which a moving object comes to a stop; a measure
of how quickly energy is dissipated or transferred
Air density - ANS As used in the text, the property of organs having approximately the same
weight and density as air; e.g., lung tissue
Water density - ANS Organs that have a tissue density similar to that of water; e.g., liver,
spleen, muscle
Solid density - ANS Tissue density consistent with bone
Blunt trauma - ANS Non-penetrating trauma caused by a rapidly moving object that impacts the
body.
Penetrating trauma - ANS Trauma that results when an object penetrates the skin and injures
underlying structures. Generally produced both permanent and temporary cavities
Cavitation - ANS The act of forcing tissues of the body out of their normal position; to cause a
temporary or permanent cavity (e.g., when the body is struck by a bullet, the the acceleration of
particles of tissue away from the missile produces an area of injury in which a large temporary
cavity occurs).
Elasticity - ANS The ability to stretch.
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