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PHYSICS OF AN ACCIDENT

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    Stopping a car running at 60 kmph all of a sudden is equal to elephant falling from a third floor and hitting the ground.  Lot of energy has to be dissipated.  Engine is constructed in front portion of the car so that it can absorb the impact in case of the crash.  The front of the car should not be rigid.  It should absorb and dissipate the energy by crumbling and deforming.  The bumper is also used to absorb energy during the crash.  Besides, there are air bags in front of the passengers.

     During an impact, there is a large deceleration (negative acceleration).  The loose and soft organs in the body cannot withstand such a force and energy.  Hence so many safety measures are built in a car.

     Engine is at the front and the boot is at the back in every car to withstand the unexpected collision.  Wash rooms are kept at the two ends of every compartment of a passenger train for the same reason.

     The lunar module of the Apollo landed safely on the moon.  The acceleration by the lunar gravity was reduced by firing small rockets.  But when the Apollo reached the earth from the moon, it just crashed into the ocean.  The energy of crash was dissipated into the waters.  The module came above the waters by deflating the balloons.

     We have developed sophisticated cars with so many safety measures. Still the accidents are on the rise.  Now, Tesla company is developing self driving cars.  Will it be completely eliminate human errors?  Will it reduce the accidents greatly?  We have to wait and see.

     But, We have to do everything in our control, everything humanly possible to reduce the road accidents world wide.  
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