What absorbs impact better, hard plastic or silicon?

[captaincrouton]

Hello,

Not sure really where to ask this but I couldn't find a good answer so why not a physics forum, because well this involves physics. I just got a gopro for my fpv drone and I am wondering what type of case to get for it, either a plastic or silicone one. If I am going 30+ mph and smack into a tree what would absorb most of that energy and protect the gopro?

Thanks

 

[verschrankung]

silicon- absorbs shock better
if you use plastic it will most likely crack depending on how hard it is

 

[davenn]

silicon- absorbs shock better

wonder where you got that info from ?
the silicon I see in semiconductors is very brittle
and I have no idea where you would get sufficient quantities from to encase a gopro ?

what would absorb most of that energy and protect the gopro?

maybe you would be much better looking at Styrofoam or foam rubber

Dave

 

[verschrankung]

wonder where you got that info from ?
the silicon I see in semiconductors is very brittle
and I have no idea where you would get sufficient quantities from to encase a gopro ?
maybe you would be much better looking at Styrofoam or foam rubber

Dave

when he said silicon I was assuming a sort of malleable silicon case that is commonly seen in phone cases, not conductor silicon - however I see your point and foam rubber sounds feasible

 

[davenn]

most mobile phone cases are plastics of one type or another, polycarbonate etc

 

[verschrankung]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OBRPYSQ/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[rootone]

There are both plastics and silicone based materials that could be used as a shock absorber.
With plastics you have more choice and they are cheaper.

 

[davenn]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OBRPYSQ/?tag=pfamazon01-20

That's silicone ! VERY different to silicon LOL

silicone ... boob jobs and other things

silicon ... make semiconductors out of

 

[A.T.]

Not sure really where to ask this but I couldn't find a good answer so why not a physics forum, because well this involves physics. I just got a gopro for my fpv drone and I am wondering what type of case to get for it, either a plastic or silicone one. If I am going 30+ mph and smack into a tree what would absorb most of that energy and protect the gopro?

It's not just about the material, but the specific design:
- How the camera is mounted inside the hard box
- How thick the silicon is
- The mechanical weak points of the camera

 

[houlahound]

These guys make a product called deflexion, should be on this site somewhere.

http://www.dowcorning.com/?WT.dn=deflexiontechnology.com&

 

[davenn]

- How thick the silicon is

silicone