Originally Posted By: Win
Force = (mass)(acceleration).
Obviously, size does matter. Wishful thinking that it doesn't won't help in an accident.
The purpose of crumple zones is to lengthen the time it takes to slow down to zero (i.e. the purpose is to lower acceleration)
A smaller car may have less mass, but with a correctly designed crumple zone the acceleration can be made low enough to impart a smaller force on the rider than an older, larger car with more mass but nearly no crumple zone.
Although now my mind is questioning...will each car not share the same crumple zone so-to-say? Maybe that would be putting it the wrong way...but it got me thinking.
Force = (mass)(acceleration).
Obviously, size does matter. Wishful thinking that it doesn't won't help in an accident.
The purpose of crumple zones is to lengthen the time it takes to slow down to zero (i.e. the purpose is to lower acceleration)
A smaller car may have less mass, but with a correctly designed crumple zone the acceleration can be made low enough to impart a smaller force on the rider than an older, larger car with more mass but nearly no crumple zone.
Although now my mind is questioning...will each car not share the same crumple zone so-to-say? Maybe that would be putting it the wrong way...but it got me thinking.