intheburbs wrote:
Turtle n Peeps wrote:
wilber1 wrote:
Less kinetic energy is one reason a Smart Car can survive the same barrier test as an Escalade even though it has very little crush zone. That and an extremely strong passenger cage.
On the money Wilber. Really good posts Ben.
And now a little question:
A 2000lb bug and an 80,000 diesel hit each other.
Who imparts more energy on who?
A grape and a bowling ball hit each other.
Who imparts more energy on who?
Sorry Ben and Wilber, you don't get to answer. You have an unfair advantage of understanding. :B Lets let some other people answer this one.
Hint: The answer is in both Ben and Wilber's really good posts.
So, you're saying you'd rather be in the 2,000-lb bug?
I'll answer your question with a question. The bug and the diesel are both traveling at 50 mph and hit head-on. What is the aftermath of the impact? In other words, what is the resulting velocity of each of the vehicles after the impact? Which occupants are subject to greater forces?
That's the whole point, it's the larger vehicles mass that makes the collision more dangerous, not the smaller vehicles lack of mass. If you are both in bugs you would be no worse off than if you were both in diesels. In fact, you would probably be better off because cars are subject to more severe crash standards than trucks. Not only that but the car has more active safety, it is much more agile and can stop faster.
