So, let's say you get into a car crash. Bad, yes? But not as bad as it could be. You see, cars are designed with "crumple zones", which crumple on impact. The front and rear of your car are such zones. Much of the energy from the collision goes towards crumpling the zone rather than the passenger cage (which, by the way, is usually quite heavily reinforced). Were the zones instead very strong, weaker sections would crumple. Of course, you wouldn't get to pick these weak parts. Better your engine crumple than you crumple, no?
Crumple zones also serve to reduce the deceleration caused by an impact by applying a force resisting the impact.
delta v = a*t
Increase t and you decrease a for the same delta v. This means that passengers experience lower g-forces, which helps to prevent injury.
F = m*a
Decrease a and you decrease F. Adding crumple zones therefore also serves to reduce the force applied to other areas of the car. This reduction in force reduces damage.
Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 12/05/2006 12:04PM by Joseph Recht.
