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From: dre@megatest.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: traffic jams
Message-ID: <205@megatest.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 15-Jun-83 14:56:17 EDT
Article-I.D.: megatest.205
Posted: Wed Jun 15 14:56:17 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 16-Jun-83 21:12:35 EDT
Lines: 15


I have vague memories of a physics lecture I attended in college where  the
prof  developed  a  wave  equation  for  traffic jams.  It was identical to
compressing a spring with a mass, except the factors were  "jumpiness,"  or
propensity to tailgate the guy in front of you, and "fear" of slamming into
his rear end.  Thus your speed tends to sinusoidally oscillate.  I leave it
to  you  to  develop  the  equations  ("proof  left  to  the  reader  as an
exercise").


				Dave Emberson
				Megatest Corp.
				Sunnyvale, CA

				megatest!dre