01-01-2010, 05:58 PM
Yep, I was wrong. If one car is stopped there is less total energy in the impact than with two moving cars.
http://physics.about.com/od/energyworkpo...cediff.htm
From a VERY quick read
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/mo.../u4l1c.cfm
the advantages in a collision are to have a) airbags b) an elastic bumper and c) a car built with crumple zones. All these things reduce the force on the occupant of a car. So if the older car doesn't have any of this engineering, it may not be so good. I know a Honda bumper is very good at absorbing force and Hondas do have crumple zones and the newer ones air bags.
oh, and feel free anyone to shoot me down and correct me because physics is not my deal and I'm interested in learning. [
]
http://physics.about.com/od/energyworkpo...cediff.htm
From a VERY quick read
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/mo.../u4l1c.cfm
the advantages in a collision are to have a) airbags b) an elastic bumper and c) a car built with crumple zones. All these things reduce the force on the occupant of a car. So if the older car doesn't have any of this engineering, it may not be so good. I know a Honda bumper is very good at absorbing force and Hondas do have crumple zones and the newer ones air bags.
oh, and feel free anyone to shoot me down and correct me because physics is not my deal and I'm interested in learning. [
]