On Sat, 20 Feb 2016 21:45:34 -0000, nospam wrote:

In article , Mr Macaw wrote:

two similar sized vehicles traveling at 30 mph that collide head-on is
equivalent to a collision of one hitting a brick wall at 30 mph.
...

Really?

really.

Which of the two comes out damaged, as it would if "hitting a brick
wall", and which comes out undamaged, as it would if only the other were
"hitting a brick wall" :-) ?

both are damaged.

Then you need a stronger device for the explanation. To make them identical,
you need a concrete bridge support which doesn't move at all.

i didn't say identical. i said both are damaged.

You said "equivalent [to a collision]".

if a small car and an 18 wheeler truck collide, both will sustain
damage.

In that case you DO add the mph. For the car. The truck doesn't really get hurt.

even a concrete bridge will sustain some damage if a car crashes into
it. it'll be minor but it won't be zero.

It'll be as good as damnit zero. And it's a common thing to crash into. 70mph (the speed limit, like anyone goes that slow) into a bridge support is just as bad as 70mph into someone going 70mph the other way. Some people actually believe you'd have to hit the bridge at 140mph to have the same damage to your car.

--
Setting a good example for your children takes all the fun out of middle age.