RE: crash tests

["Englert, Rick" <RickE@triadperform.com>]

I picture it this way.
Imagine you're a cop parked at the side of the road, facing traffic.  Some
guy, who happens to be also driving a Crown Victoria comes barrelling toward
you at 60mph.  You point your radar gun at him and it says 60, right before
he hits you.
After you get out of the hospital, you get back on duty and you're cruising
down the road at 30 mph and the SAME GUY (who also just got out of the
hospital), driving a new Crown Victoria comes toward you at 30 mph.  You
point your radar gun at him.  It says 60, and then he hits you. (I know that
a real radar gun will subtract the cop car's speed, but humour me on this
one)  You vow to become a desk jockey and ask yourself which one hurt more?
They both hurt the same.  The only difference is the speed at which the road
is moving under each car, and the speed the wheels and drivetrain on each
car are moving.  Both of these will have an effect on the outcome, but it's
pretty small, I think.
Rick

-----Original Message-----
From: Huw Powell [mailto:audi@mediaone.net]
Sent: Monday, December 13, 1999 3:37 PM
To: Robert Myers
Cc: Audi Fans
Subject: Re: crash tests


> Sorry, Huw.  Your reasoning is flawed. 
> 
> Imagine a car striking an immovable barricade. 

No barricades involved, so why "imagine" any?

>  In effect, each car becomes the other car's immovable barricade.

Nope.  In the 60/0 collision, the CAR being hit ends up moving at 30 mph
(less friction losses to the road) in the direction the 60 mph car was
going.  Try it any time.  maybe with something cheaper than cars, and
slower, and smaller...

-- 
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi/

82 Audi Coupe; 84 4kq; 85 Coupe GT; 73 F250

http://people.ne.mediaone.net/audi/thoughts.htm