Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!wivax!decvax!decwrl!sun!megatest!dre 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