[Phys-L] Re: collision question

[Ludwik Kowalski <kowalskil@MAIL.MONTCLAIR.EDU>]

Assuming stopping times are the same a head-on collision of identical
cars has more kinetic energy available than the collision of one car
with a cement wall.

Ludwik Kowalski
Let the perfect not be the enemy of the good.

On Thursday, Feb 17, 2005, at 08:34 America/New_York, Kilmer, Skip
wrote:

> I'd guess the wall, since cars are now designed to have frontal crush
> zones that would tend to increase the collision time.
> skip
> > Which would be more damaging, driving into a very massive concrete
> > wall
> > or having a  head-on collision with a similar car moving toward you
> > with
> > the same speed?