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

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

> I don't follow you.  To richochet, you have to slow down just as
> much (to 0 velocity in that direction), too, but you store the
> kinetic energy as potential energy in the spring/your frame and then
> re-accelerate, which doesn't make things any better really.

  -->//<--
When two objects ricochet at an angle as above, the impact is greatly
lessened, by a factor of the angle.  I'm not sure where you get the idea
that you re-accelerate, the energy is transferred just as in a fender
bender. Neither car re-accelerates, or accidents would become perpetual
motion machines.

> The ideal situation is to slow the car down over as long a period of 
> time as possible.  So if you literally had 500 feet of stacked coke 
> cans on the front of your car, you could probably survive a pretty 
> impressive crash since you would be decelerating for quite a long 
> time. :-)

I like that idea, but parking would be hell.

> Or am I missing something?

Your about 5 soda cans short of a fender ;-)

> > 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.
> 
> That sounds really bad if you're on a multi-lane road.

I don't see where y'all get the idea that a ricochet like this is going to
send you careening into other lanes any more than you already do in accident
avoidance.  Your not in a frictionless environment, your tires will work to
right you (unlike accident avoidance which has your tires pointed with the
force, driving you into the other lane), and most of these accidents would
result in only a bit of buffeting that would just move the cars enough to
get them out of each others way.  Keep in mind that each car will hit the
other with about half its force at a 45° angle, less if the angle is
greater.  If you worked the angle to about 60°, most of the cars momentum
would continue its course, but about a third of it would be transferred to
sideways motion, being from 10 to 20 mph, which your wheel alignment would
resist.  At most your dealing with 28.3mph that would be further absorbed as
heat and stress on the bumper and frame before affecting the driver.  Your
real concern is only in wet weather where hydroplaning is an issue. In those
instances, your still better off, as you've avoided the head on collision at
120mph(60 for your car+60 for other car) in favor of a side collision at
about 20mph.

> jking
> 
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