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Crash Test...Not So Dummies

pavelow

Entry posted by pavelow

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When cars get into a collision, why does it seem like half the car gets turned into debris?

The answer is simple, conservation of momentum.

In elastic collisions, like car crashes, the projectiles have a lot of momentum. If a head on collision occurred where the cars stayed perfectly rigid, the occupants would have a huge change in momentum. This used to happen before modern safety regulations. Modern cars are designed to "give", absorbing a large amount of momentum and keeping the occupants from experiencing the same change in momentum, saving lives and livelihoods in the process.

It is a lot better to lose more of your car than losing more of your body.

Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nyfRwMQ-Tk

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