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To: MIT-Elephant

Impact force equals mass times velocity.

I don’t think calculating it is as simple as multiplying pounds times mph, as the author appears to have done.

This formula is the reason relatively low-mass objects, such as bullets, can do massive damage when traveling at high enough speed.


11 posted on 10/28/2007 6:20:32 PM PDT by Sherman Logan
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To: Sherman Logan

m * v is momentum

force is m * a

and the problem is energy dissipations which used to go as 1/2 m*v^2


14 posted on 10/28/2007 6:25:46 PM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: Sherman Logan

The force is one half the mass times the square of the velocity, so doubling the speed quadruples the force of the impact.


24 posted on 10/28/2007 7:03:18 PM PDT by Squawk 8888 (Is human activity causing the warming trend on Mars?)
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To: Sherman Logan
Impact force equals mass times velocity.

No, that is momentum. Momentum is not force. Again, see post #28. The key thing is change in speed divided by time.

31 posted on 10/28/2007 7:15:20 PM PDT by Right Wing Assault ("..this administration is planning a 'Right Wing Assault' on values and ideals.." - John Kerry)
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