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Swizec 3 hours ago

> The blue car, using ½mv², shed (~70²=) 4900 units of energy (we'll hand wave away the constants). So the red car, which had (100²=) 10000 units of kinetic energy to start, also shed 4900 units, which means it had 5100 units of energy when it collided, and so was going (√5100~) 71

But if the cars produce downforce this is no longer true because you brake harder (more friction available) at higher speeds!

This is how F1 cars pull 4G when breaking. Some custom cars (like one of Ken Block’s last monsters or the Valkyre) use active aero braking to even greater effect.

tracerbulletx 3 hours ago | parent [-]

But what if the cars are spherical cows?

kibwen 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I'm sorry to inform you that those cows are going to have a hard time braking on that frictionless surface.

PaulDavisThe1st 2 hours ago | parent [-]

Based on a hike in the Carson National Forest 2 days ago, the only reason a cow is on a frictionless surface is that the cow shat all over it.

BigTTYGothGF 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Cows can't roll that fast.

zdragnar 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Not with that attitude

elromulous 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Or on shabbos