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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!lanl-a!unm-ivax!nmtvax!student
From: student@nmtvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: Re: Naive Question
Message-ID: <395@nmtvax.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 9-Jul-83 14:58:45 EDT
Article-I.D.: nmtvax.395
Posted: Sat Jul  9 14:58:45 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 11-Jul-83 01:20:33 EDT
References: <161@auvax.UUCP>
Organization: New Mexico Tech, Socorro, NM
Lines: 25


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  Two cars, one having twice the mass of the other, are driven into
a brick wall.  Neither driver is wearing a seatbelt.  What is the
difference, if any, between the speeds with which the drivers are
thrown?  Why?  (Both cars are going the same speed initially; both
drivers weigh the same amount.)
  
****************************************************************/

Initialy the two drivers are moving at the same velocity (assuming
that they are going in the same direction ie. scalar vs. vector).
When the cars impact the brick wall, assuming that the wall is
thick enough to completely stop the foward momentum of the car,
the heavier car has twice the momentum of the lighter but the
drivers have the SAME momentum and velocity. If the cars are
stopped instantously (well close enough not to matter) then the
two drivers will go splat against the steering wheel with the
same velocity, the same momentum, and the same kenitic energy.
Better wear a seat belt.

Not afraid to buckle up!
Greg Hennessy;
..ucbvax!unmvax!nmtvax!student