me and my friends were stupid enough to throw water balloons at a car, and when the police caught us, this one officer told us that we could have busted the wind shield. Was he full of crap or could we really have caused damage?
We wont ever do it again, i just want to know.
2006-06-29 11:54:24 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
actually, it can! If you understand physics, the website below has proof. (but I dont know how hard you threw it.)
2006-06-29 12:00:31 · answer #1 · answered by aznfatnerd 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
The water balloon would have to be travelling extremely fast relative to the car in oder to bust the windshield.
If you can't generate the right amount of speed for a normal-sized water balloon, you could try using a gigantic one (half the size of the car, should do it) to generate enough water mass to break a windshield.
The cop was putting you on, though. Not that what you were doing was right. This would be an interesting show topic for "Myth Busters"
2006-06-29 12:03:13 · answer #2 · answered by g0at_cheez™ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Force = mass x velocity.
Force would be what it takes to break the windshield. (We all know it can be broken just how hard do you have to hit it?)
Mass would be the weight of the balloon. (It's a little more complicated than that but it's close enough for this example.)
Velocity is the speed the balloon hits the windshield. The speed of the car + the speed of the balloon.
So water balloons don't very much in mass. So it's the velocity, or speed that will determine if the windshield breaks.
2006-06-29 12:04:54 · answer #3 · answered by Gregory B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is possible. The 1st possibility is if the combined collision force of the balloon and windshield exceeds the force needed to break glass such as if the car was travelling at 600+mph or if you have a superman throw. The 2nd possibility is if the water in the balloon is frozen.
Find more productive fun!
2006-06-29 12:07:06 · answer #4 · answered by chief inspector 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, most wind shields are supposed to be durable. So he was wrong. UNLESS the windshield was badly designed, then it could have broke. But windshields are meant to shield flying debris (shrapnel, pebbles, etc) on the road, so his point was, in case the windshield is badly designed, you don't want to take the risk of breaking the windshield of a car, otherwise the owner of the car could press charges against you if the windshield breaks.
2006-06-29 13:43:29 · answer #5 · answered by www.FreeDebtConsultation.ubb.cc 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He said You could have, not you almost, or did, They just did that to shake you up. I mean, COME ON! Unless you had rocks in it or something, it won't be a problem. As long as you aren't dropping it from a like 3 story building, it is not going to create enough pressure to bust the windshield.
Throwing water balloons at cars is fun..... But seriously, don't do it if it will get you in trouble!
2006-06-29 12:03:40 · answer #6 · answered by Awkward.. 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Anything of sufficient weight and force will break the windshield. Some years ago I saw an experiment where a candle was inserted in the barrel of a shotgun with a blank cartridge. It was fired at a piece of wood and went straight through it! Don't ever mess with moving vehicles. If you distract the driver he could kill someone and unfortunately it may not be you!
2006-06-29 12:15:06 · answer #7 · answered by quatt47 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
perhaps if the car is going over 80, has a crack in the windshield already and it's a large water balloon, I'll say it's possible to do some kind of damage.
2006-06-29 12:09:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes I agree with everyone else. A water balloon is too watery! But maybe depended on how hard you hit the fcar? I know hale can sometimes break windshields.
2006-06-29 12:02:17 · answer #9 · answered by Suzy Suzee Sue 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the velocity of the car but very, very, very unlikely. What is more likely is you could have startled the driver into losing control of the car and causing an accident.
2006-06-29 11:58:44 · answer #10 · answered by Sir J 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
by your experience it seems that the water balloons can't break the wind shield of a car...
but why don't you try to hit harder so that you can actually break the wind shield...?
2006-06-29 11:58:59 · answer #11 · answered by g o l d e e 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋