Rob B: simplifying slightly, this is GCSE physics: kinetic energy = 1/2 mv squared.
Assuming a point mass for shits and giggles, 175kg bike at 150mph = something very approximately like 392,787 joules.
A 1500kg mid sized car travelling at the dual carriageway legal limit of 70 mph gives a rough figure of 739,429.
Although energy increases based on the square of speed, the car is so much heavier that the energy delivered to what it hits is likely to be far greater, even at a much lower velocity. In fact, the car on that road would likely be doing 80, so you do the math.
The lesson is, if you have a choice between being rear-ended by a flying squaddie on a sportsbike or a careless fucker in a 5 series playing with the radio, you are far better off choosing the squaddie.
This raises the fairly obvious question of why the car drivers you will see every day driving in a deliberately careless manner (looking down to play with the radio or aircon, changing lane without a proper signal, failing to keep a safe following distance) are not threatened with a 6 month stretch?
Posted: 03/08/2010 at 15:19
