Re: Fwd: Audi A8 Achieves Highest Possible Safety Test Rating

[Michael Williams <daserde@ucla.edu>]

Orin Eman decided to speak these words:

>Looking at forces, the concrete barrier provides whatever force is required
>to decelerate the car.  In the case of the head on crash, the same force is
>required... by each car.  If you then look at Newton's laws - equal and
>opposite reaction.  Each car supplies the reaction required by the other!


I understand how this makes sense because of the crumple zones 
effectively doubling the distance travelled by the cars  before they come 
to rest, so even though the cumulative speed is equivelent to 70mph, the 
sumulative force is that of 35mph.  So does this mean that head on 
accidents generally are not addative, but are simply equal (relatively) 
to the speed of each car in terms of forces that are felt by the 
occupants?

I had another theory.  Since momentum is a factor of both mass and 
velocity, and since it is essentially this momentum that causes SUV's to 
be more damaging to smaller cars, if it is possible for a small car to be 
going fast enough to create a higher momentum than the SUV, and therefore 
cause LESS force on its own occupants....

I dont know if that makes sense to you guys, to me it makes sense, but i 
dunno...

hehe

later...


Michael Sheridan Williams
ICQ# 11740998

1985 4000 S Quattro 185,000+ miles, Koni Yellows/Coilover (2B), strut 
brace, Sport 8000 Tires, K&N, MOMO 4pt harnesses, Hella XL Driving lights 
(excuse me, auxilliary low beams) (2x135w), magnecor wires....<out of 
breath>
1986 Oceanic Blue, 4000CS Quattro--Parting Out(ask if you want anything)
My father's: 1986 4000 CS Quattro--Graphite 161,000 miles

http://members.aol.com/daserde2