RE: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] computer and car prices (was Re: [MLUG])

["Ross, Matt" <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

> The whole idea of cars smashing like tin cans has to do with energy
> transfer. Smashing the car body consumes its kinetic energy and slows
> the colliding objects down. The frame is what should keep the 

The problem is that it slows them down, transferring energy, too fast.  A
ricochet would transfer some energy, but not so much that inertia would kill
you.

> passenger
> area intact. What if that accident happened on a bridge or in 
> a tunnel?
> Would you like to be bouncing from wall to wall all the way 
> to the other

We're not talking about a rubber ball that would bounce off anything. Just a
bumper designed to deflect cars rather than take a head on impact.  You'd
slow down and straighten out on the first wall or rail you ricocheted into.

> side? Not me. Seat belts would be useless there becuase 
> things like your
> neck are not secured anyhow.

Seat belts are useless anyway if the impact is too great.  In the smaller
accidents that wouldn't benefit from this, the ricochet effect wouldn't be
great enough to show the effects your referring to anyway.

> But whether this idea has been implemented well enough is a completely
> different story.

That's kinda the problem, its never been done, as far as I know.  The
reasons are probably:
A) looks ugly,
B) won't fit parking spaces, and
C) we'd have to design a new engine shape.

Besides, car accidents help control the people population.
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