So I only took one physics class and never had to do it again, so I have no clue how to think of this. But doesnt a heavier car need more force to bring it + the passengers up to velocity than a lighter vehicle?
If that’s the case and that car crashed, then I would figure the passengers would experience more force going the opposite direction than passengers in the lighter vehicle. That seems like it’d be more dangerous, even though both sets of passengers travelled at the same speed. Am I off base?
The amount of force you experience has nothing to do with the vehicle you’re in, but the acceleration (positive or negative) you experience. In the case of a brake check, the only factors are starting speed, ending speed, and time. It doesn’t matter if you’re increasing speed (positive acceleration) or slowing down (negative acceleration), the total force will be the same (just different directions).
Here are some formulas:
acceleration = change in velocity / change in time
force = mass * acceleration
In this case, the mass is your mass, since you’re the one experiencing the acceleration.
If you’re riding a bicycle at 15mph and slam on the brakes and stop in 10 feet, you’ll feel exactly the same force as being in a massive truck going 15mph and stop in 10 feet.
So I only took one physics class and never had to do it again, so I have no clue how to think of this. But doesnt a heavier car need more force to bring it + the passengers up to velocity than a lighter vehicle?
If that’s the case and that car crashed, then I would figure the passengers would experience more force going the opposite direction than passengers in the lighter vehicle. That seems like it’d be more dangerous, even though both sets of passengers travelled at the same speed. Am I off base?
Yes, you’re off base.
The amount of force you experience has nothing to do with the vehicle you’re in, but the acceleration (positive or negative) you experience. In the case of a brake check, the only factors are starting speed, ending speed, and time. It doesn’t matter if you’re increasing speed (positive acceleration) or slowing down (negative acceleration), the total force will be the same (just different directions).
Here are some formulas:
In this case, the mass is your mass, since you’re the one experiencing the acceleration.
If you’re riding a bicycle at 15mph and slam on the brakes and stop in 10 feet, you’ll feel exactly the same force as being in a massive truck going 15mph and stop in 10 feet.