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Exactly.
In our hypothetical situation both planes would be damaged equally.
I appreciate the repartee. Now, in our hypothetical stationary plane, lets replace all the aluminum parts with steel. In our hypothetical model, the steel will be three times the stiffness and weight of the aluminum. So lets say that gives the stationary plane twice the mass...hypothetically.
Once again, the planes collide at 500 MPH, this time the stationary plane is made of steel.
Which plane is likely to do more damage to the other one?
Originally posted by PhotonEffect
Or how about this wooden 2x4? Can your physics resolve this conundrum?
Our daily experiences might lead us to think that forces are always applied by one object on another. For example, a horse pulls a buggy, a person pushes a grocery cart, or a magnet attracts a nail. In each of these examples a force is exerted on one body by another body. It took Sir Isaac Newton to realize that things are not so simple, not so one-sided. True, if a hammer strikes a nail, the hammer exerts a force on the nail (thereby driving it into a board). Yet, the nail must also exert a force on the hammer since the hammer’s state of motion is changed and, according to the First Law, this requires a net (outside) force. This is the essence of Newton’s Third Law: Whenever one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts an equal and opposite force on the first object. This law is often stated: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. However, it is important to understand that the action force and the reaction force are acting on different objects.
Originally posted by hooper
Wait, now the whole plane is made of steel? And its only three times as heavy and twice the mass? I can see now why you get so confused. You think you can make perfect extrapolations to the real world based on a very primitive understanding of some simple physical propositions.
When all objects collide there is an equal and opposite reaction...
Wait, now the whole plane is made of steel? And its only three times as heavy and twice the mass?
Originally posted by septic
reply to post by hooper
Wait, now the whole plane is made of steel? And its only three times as heavy and twice the mass?
I knew that would throw you for a loop, but hoped in vain you'd realize in my hypothetical model I was exchanging only the aluminum parts of the plane with steel. Had I estimated three times it's mass, I'm sure someone would have pointed out that not all of an airplane is made of aluminum.
Originally posted by Varemia
It is kind of an irrelevant demonstration, though, isn't it? If they have equal mass but different material whilst traveling at the same speed, then they will have the same damage. If one is going faster, then both will be more damaged. The faster something goes, the more damage it causes. Even if the material is disintegrated, it still is traveling very fast and will impact more along the way. This is what happened in the towers for the most part. Due to the wall of the tower not being a solid wall (windows, and bolts will fail easier than the metal will shear, in some cases, so not all the plane "cut" through), the plane was not completely destroyed upon entering the building, and was able to cause more damage on the inside.
The faster something goes, the more damage it causes?
Originally posted by ProudBird
reply to post by septic
The faster something goes, the more damage it causes?
YES!!! Finally, a truthful statement!
(It shows that even those who live under bridges can occasionally utter a bit of *truth*, in-between the vast amount of other filth and detritus that spews out of their pie-hole....)....
Originally posted by septic
Even if the material is disintegrated
Originally posted by septic
Originally posted by ProudBird
reply to post by septic
The faster something goes, the more damage it causes?
YES!!! Finally, a truthful statement!
(It shows that even those who live under bridges can occasionally utter a bit of *truth*, in-between the vast amount of other filth and detritus that spews out of their pie-hole....)....
The faster a stationary object is struck, the more damage it causes. Yeah, we're saying the same thing.
edit on 1-11-2011 by septic because: (no reason given)
The faster a stationary object is struck, the more damage it causes. Yeah, we're saying the same thing.
Originally posted by ProudBird
reply to post by septic
The faster a stationary object is struck, the more damage it causes. Yeah, we're saying the same thing.
Are you getting it, now?
The *stationary object* was (were) the Twin Towers. They, each of them, were struck.
Just as a bullet might enter YOUR BODY (or, head).
Get it now???
Originally posted by septic
Originally posted by ProudBird
reply to post by septic
The faster a stationary object is struck, the more damage it causes. Yeah, we're saying the same thing.
Are you getting it, now?
The *stationary object* was (were) the Twin Towers. They, each of them, were struck.
Just as a bullet might enter YOUR BODY (or, head).
Get it now???
I get you're not getting it if you claim a wingtip can sever multiple box columns, a steel spandrel and concrete floor.
Originally posted by septic
What is good for the goose is good for the gander.
Do you have some kind of imagination where a stationary object becomes stronger the faster an object is impacting it?
Originally posted by septic
reply to post by waypastvne
It's a missile designed to pierce hardened targets. Duh.