Re: crash tests

[Lawrence C Leung <l.leung@juno.com>]

The total kinetic energy and momenta of the two car systems. As the total
kinetic energy increases, the total amount of energy to disappate
increases. Since the car's ability to absorb is fixed, the survivability
decreases WITH THE SQUARE of the increasing speeds. SO, in this case (I
hate to admit this) speed does kill. 

K.E. = 1/2 mV^2 

m is mass (not weight) 
V = velocity 

Note: even if you don't use the "normal" units to do this, the effect is
proportional, so you can work out the effect no matter if you use MPH,
kph, m/s, kg or even pounds.... just be consistant.

On Tue, 14 Dec 1999 09:43:17 -0500 Eric_R_Kissell@email.whirlpool.com
writes:
>Consider the following:
>
>Two cars colliding head-on ==================> v1=30  &  v2=(-30)
>
>One car colliding with parked car ===========> v1=60  &  v2=0
>
>Two cars colliding, one into rear of other ==> v1=120 &  v2=60
>
>What are the differences between the four cases?
>
>Note, velocity difference between the 2 cars is the same in all cases. 
>
>(e.g. delta v = 60)
>
>Eric R. Kissell
>1986 5000cstq, 1.8 bar, k24