Question of vehicular safety 5

[Lion06]

I've been having a discussion with my wife regarding the safety of automobiles. My wife hit a deer today with her car and later made the comment that it's a good thing the car didn't crumple like an accordian. I tried explaining that the crumpling is what makes the car safer to the passenger because it helps to dissipate the energy of the impact as well as decelerates the car at a slower rate (which, in turn, imparts less acceleration and force to the passengers). She is convinced that a car that could make it through a head-on collision with no damage is the safest car to be in (while I told her that is actually the most un-safe car to be in) Let's for argument's sake say a 1970 chevy nova is in a collision with a 2010 toyota camry - she believes the passengers in the nova will make out better. She suggested I come here to pose this question. I already know what the answer is, but I would appreciate if some of you could weigh in.

 

[KENAT]

jmw, I understand the former soviet union was big on 'centralized heating systems' using 'waste heat' from various industrial processes to heat nearby offices, apartments etc. and that they didn't really invest in individual thermostats or temperature control of said offices & apartments - the solution being as you say to open windows.

The thing that annoys me is my son seems to be following my wifes system. This is complicated by living in a desert with big temperature swings this time of year, compounded by our primary cooling being evaporative not AC.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[jmw]

And speaking of divorce, Structural, we are now desperate to know the outcome.... I see you are still alive and not road kill because you posted yesterday....but.... is not the way to get ideas across.... and unless there was a new strategy?

JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[tumbleleaves]

This is a mechanical engineering forum, it is refreshing to hear the "energy" thought.

However, I think this time "force": the force the body will feel. The change in momentum.

THUS:
1) The Chevy Nova will undergo a change of momentum of about half of that of the Toyota. Your wife may be right and the Nova would be better off in the Nova Toyota head-to-head.
2) Also, like the other poster mentioned the soft crushing of the Toyota will be shared with Nova--but the Nova's mass will benefit the Nova alone and detriment the Toyota.

It would make things a lot simpler if everyone drove a car with less mass. The answer is higher gas prices--but no one is going win that election. Henry Ford intended his cars to be light, spartan, the fewest parts possible and all interchangeable and universal: the opposite of the current American designs.

 

[321GO]

Quote:
"It would make things a lot simpler if everyone drove a car with less mass"

Ya, the killer acceleration would be really save.

Quote
"Henry Ford intended his cars to be light, spartan, the fewest parts possible and all interchangeable and universal: the opposite of the current American designs"

Ya, so HE could make more money. But that way your basically strangling the whole industrie. Real good idea.

 

[gruntguru]

We can strangle the industry now or decapitate it later when the resources start to run out.

Engineering is the art of creating things you need, from things you can get.

 

[rmw]

KACarrol,

Sorry, but the second point wasn't a joke at all; it was an opinion based on life's experiences. (One mother, one wife, 3 daughters - it is like having 5 mothers.) Men and women in general operate from different sides of the brain. That doesn't make men or women inferior or superior, just different, and thankfully so. Actually, when it comes to things like intuition I think women are superior to logical men and I am glad of it.

rmw