Exploring the Impact of Relative Velocities in Collisions

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of relativity and its application to car collisions. The question is posed whether the impact and damage would be the same if two cars, one moving at 110 and the other at 120, collided compared to if they were moving at lower speeds of 30 and 40. The conclusion is that the impact would be the same as motion is relative and there is no absolute speed.
  • #1
Bahaa Azzam
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Hello.

Out of nowhere i started wondering about relativity, I got some question that made me curios.

If we have 2 cars on the road, car A moving at speed 110, car B moving at speed 120 , if car B touched ( hit or tagged ) car A.
Will it be the same impact or the damage done if car A was at speed 30 and car B at speed 40 ?
Considering the two cars are identical.

Im just a second year engineering student, didn't study much physics yet.
 
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  • #2
:welcome:

The answer is yes. In both cases you could choose a reference frame where one car had speed zero and the other car speed 10.

Motion is relative. There is no such thing as absolute speed.
 
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Likes Bahaa Azzam

1. What is relative velocity impact?

Relative velocity impact is the change in the velocity of an object due to the impact or collision with another object. It takes into account the initial velocities and masses of both objects to determine the resulting velocities after impact.

2. How is relative velocity impact calculated?

The calculation for relative velocity impact involves using the conservation of momentum and the conservation of kinetic energy equations. The resulting velocities can be determined using the masses and initial velocities of the objects before impact.

3. What factors affect relative velocity impact?

The factors that affect relative velocity impact include the masses and initial velocities of the objects involved, as well as the angle and type of collision (elastic or inelastic).

4. What is the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions?

Elastic collisions are those in which the total kinetic energy of the objects before and after impact remains the same, while inelastic collisions involve a loss of kinetic energy due to the deformation of the objects involved.

5. How is relative velocity impact important in real-world scenarios?

Relative velocity impact is important in understanding the effects of collisions in various situations, such as car accidents, sports, and space travel. It can also be used in engineering and design to predict the outcomes of impacts and improve safety measures.

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