I wonder which vehicle is legitimately safer. I think crumple zones are a big part of why wrecks are so much more survivable now. I don’t think it’d be a simple as most mass wins, but more how the vehicle transfers that to occupants.
I know I got rear ended by one of those beasts and it totalled my car, but didn’t seem to bother the tank that hit me. I was shocked at the damage because it didn’t really feel that bad. Of course I don’t really know anything about vehicle safety so I could real easily be wrong.
the reason why mass matters is because if you have more mass, let’s say twice the mass of a sedan for example, you transfer significantly more energy into the smaller vehicle, and the smaller vehicle transfers significantly less energy into the large vehicle.
go find a video of a freight training crashing into a car or something at a crossing. There’s a reason freight trains don’t have crumple zones.
I wonder which vehicle is legitimately safer. I think crumple zones are a big part of why wrecks are so much more survivable now. I don’t think it’d be a simple as most mass wins, but more how the vehicle transfers that to occupants.
I know I got rear ended by one of those beasts and it totalled my car, but didn’t seem to bother the tank that hit me. I was shocked at the damage because it didn’t really feel that bad. Of course I don’t really know anything about vehicle safety so I could real easily be wrong.
You’re right on crumple zones, but also bumper height makes a big difference (i.e. if bumpers are aligned, there’s less damage). https://www.motortrend.com/news/collision-costs-iihs-says-car-suv-bumper-heights-can-prove-expensive-9290/
Not fair to call it a tank. A tank driver can see what’s in front of it.
the reason why mass matters is because if you have more mass, let’s say twice the mass of a sedan for example, you transfer significantly more energy into the smaller vehicle, and the smaller vehicle transfers significantly less energy into the large vehicle.
go find a video of a freight training crashing into a car or something at a crossing. There’s a reason freight trains don’t have crumple zones.