Kinetic Energy E = ½mv2

Kinetic Energy E = ½mv2 In a crash the energy to be dissipated is proportional to the square of the velocity

So the energy to be dissipated at 20 mph is 4 x that at 10 mph Kinetic Energy E = ½mv2 In a crash the energy to be dissipated is proportional to the square of the velocity So the energy to be dissipated at 20 mph is 4 x that at 10 mph

So the energy to be dissipated at 100 mph is 100 x that at 10 mph http://www.firefox10.com/internetexplorer.php

And remember for two cars at 50mph head on the relative velocity is 100mph

E = ½mv2 Kinetic Energy

So the energy to be dissipated at 100 mph is 100 x that at 10 mph