Posted on 05/16/2015 3:52:39 PM PDT by Duke C.
Basic physics states that F+MV² ( force= mass times velocity squared)
Let's say a thug tosses a bowling ball at Amtrak 188, presently moving at 70 MPH.
That would be 15LBS times 88FPS which would equal 1,742,000 foot pounds of energy.
Don't know if this is right, my physics is rusty. Anybody?
“Could a heavy object cause a train derailment?”
Yes, if it went through the windshield, something hit the conductor, and knocked him senseless.
This sounds implausible, but this guy doesn’t strike me as someone who didn’t take his job seriously. He always wanted to be a train conductor (I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up). Another possibility (again, implausible, but possible) is undiagnosed epilepsy.
I could never do the math but I like space enough that I have a basic understanding of the physics.
A Caterpillar Tractor maybe.
Less than a minute.
Oh, that’s a winner. Especially the ending.
This isn’t a physics question as much it it a question about the “The Butterfly Effect”.
Is it possible for an object thrown at a train to cause a chain of events that cause the train to derail?
If you believe that it possible for an spontaneous formation of a Rube Goldberg machine, yes it is possible.
I call this “The butterfly effect of flash mob formation of Rube Goldberg machine causing unintended consequences.”
I am still working on the title.
Under a minute. Loco has 8600 peak hp.
The projective excuse sounds bogus. Probably a leak from Amtrak lawyers.
As George76 pointed out the engineer slammed on the brakes at the end
which kind of blows up the theory that the engineer was knocked senseless.
If he was knocked senseless, how could he apply brakes?
The projectile theory is a red herring.
The speed of the train going into a sharp curve is what caused the crash.
+
Force is NOT mass x Velocity^2. Force is rate of change of momentum. Kinetic energy is (1/2)mv^2.
Want to derail a train?You would have to attack the tracks.
Duh. Pull the inside bolts/ spikes on a curve
Or you can get some idiot homo to run the train at double speed through a turn.
Need to be able to shift a rail out of alignment for a really good derail.
The bowling ball would simply shatter upon impact.
Are there ways to derail a train? Well, I am not going to supply info to our enemies. Enuf (maybe too much) said...
If I remember right, it was under a minute. The NTSB gave the speed increase in three batches of seconds.
Has anyone found the nine missing derailers?
MANNY!
Man, I love that movie.
While posting picture of his insignificance?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.