Can anybody help me with this?

2 Comments

1. 

   Bobo H

   4:55 am on March 14, 2010

   first the energy of the crash will be transferred to the bumper of the bus. In the process that energy will be transformed from kenetic energy (the energy of motion) to thermal energy (heat energy). The water in the bumper will help absorb and dissipate the heat energy thereby transferring the heat energy to the air around the bumper. when the bumper has absorbed and transformed as much energy as possible it will reach a point where the bumper can no longer absorb any more heat and it will cause the bumper to rupture. When it ruptures the water will spill out and the bumper will deform; as it does it will abosorb more energy to the point where one of two things will happen. 1) all of the energy of the impact will have been dissipated as it was transformed from kenetic energy to heat to radiant energy or 2) there is still an excess of kenetic engergy being transferred and it will be passed to the body and frame of the bus at which time the sheet metal and frame of the bus will be deformed.

   how much energy is transferred before the frame and sheet metal of the bus are deformed is a function of the speed of the vehicle(s) involved

   hope that helps
2. 

   logicalgal

   5:30 am on March 14, 2010

   Wow, Bobo H has a good answer!