Hello,

Just watched this on Mythbusters, very interesting watch imo.

So basically outcome was 2 cars crashing head on at 50mph does not = car crashing into wall at 100mph..

Glad the laws of physics haven't changed then

Could that possibley be because a wall and a car are not the same objects?

if the wall were capable of travelling at 50mph, and thecar was also doing 50mph then the effect is the same as hitting it at 100mph. Two cars travelling at 50mph are a different story though, because the crumple zone on the second vehicle will absorb some of the impact along with its suspension.

The velocity of impact is 100 mph however the force is /2 with newtons 3rd law (equal and opposite reaction).

But I think my point is many many times you hear ohh a head on impact is like twice the damage blah blah blah says many people. When in fact its simply the same as crashing into a solid object.

So lesson here is.. next time you are planning to have an accident between the wall or an on-coming car, choose the car (ONLY IF your car is bigger).

As pointed out the force is half. Kinetic energy is (mass x velocity^2)/2 hecne 2 vehciles travelling at 50mph halve half the energy of one vehicle travelling at 100mph.

Either way however, I'd rather not try them out perosnally.

So lesson here is.. next time you are planning to have an accident between the wall or an on-coming car, choose the car (ONLY IF your car is bigger).

Depends on what the other car is... Fifth Gear ran a test where a Renault Modus (not the worlds largest vehicle) crashed into an Volvo Estate from the 90s (think it was a 960, but not 100% sure on that).

The Renault fared pretty well considering it practically destroyed the Volvo in the accident... The Renault passenger cell was almost intact where anyone in the Volvo would have been crushed to death by the "ickle car"

Depends on the age of the vehicles too. Newer cars are a lot stronger than older cars and hold up a lot better in an impact.

I watched one where a car took a side impact from a 4x4 (as if pulling out of a side street sorta thing) and OMG... The car was totally destroyed.

Depends on what the other car is... Fifth Gear ran a test where a Renault Modus (not the worlds largest vehicle) crashed into an Volvo Estate from the 90s (think it was a 960, but not 100% sure on that).

The Renault fared pretty well considering it practically destroyed the Volvo in the accident... The Renault passenger cell was almost intact where anyone in the Volvo would have been crushed to death by the "ickle car"

5th gear rather than top gear My link

5th gear rather than top gear My link

I said fifth gear....

Or am I cracking up? (which is distinctly possible)

I said fifth gear....

Or am I cracking up? (which is distinctly possible)

dunno why i read it as top gear or i just forgot before typing reply and link ooops