In some movies, we see a car falling over a cliff or off a bridge, and it bursts into flames before it reaches the ground. Would this really happen, and if so, why?
2006-08-09 23:54:24 · 15 answers · asked by Paul FB 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
I was sorely tempted to just copy and paste some of the info from this site and make myself look really knowledgable! But modesty forbids, so here is a link to an excellent site on bad movie physics, which explores many questions like this!
http://www.intuitor.com/moviephysics/
2006-08-10 00:19:20 · answer #1 · answered by Avondrow 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It should burst into flames when it reaches the ground or moments after. The only possibility for the car to burst to flames in the air is if it already is in flames or the air is filled with gas and some spark caused it to burst into flames...but since they are movies, "anything" is possible, I guess. Most likely they are just trying to create an effect because some cars don't burst into flames even when it runs over a cliff or bridge.
2006-08-10 00:01:08 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those things we see in the movies are not real. They're mere fictions. However it may be possible for a car falling through the air to burst into flamesif: the gasoline pours out from the tank and splashed on hot part of the vehicle such the engine block, exhaust manifold or the exhaust pipe, or even a park that may result from battrey head( which may have shaken during the process of fall) or from any other means whereby sparks are ignited.
Ordinarily nothing will make a falling car burst into flames
2006-08-11 00:22:34 · answer #3 · answered by Davidkay! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While it could happen if a part of the fuel system was compromised when it went over the edge and came in contact with something hot, in practice it would be a long shot. Realize that in movies, the set a charge on the car and detonate it at a desired time to create the effect.
2006-08-10 02:18:36 · answer #4 · answered by Jeffrey S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ladder Capta...said "No, but Hollywood does wonders to make things look very real"
On the contrary, much of what they do is very unreal.
Motor cars are not aerobatic, nor are they pyrotechnic.
And a piece of lead the size of a cigarette butt (a bullet) will not knock anyone off their feet.
The so-called special effects departments should be renamed stupid effects departments.
2006-08-10 10:03:19 · answer #5 · answered by dmb06851 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if in a crash the fuel line is ruptured or the fuel tank holed then the petrol splashing either onto the hot engine but more likely the exhaust would be sufficient to ignite and blow the fuel tank of the vehicle resulting in a fireball while the vehicle is still in motion
2006-08-10 00:04:51 · answer #6 · answered by g8bvl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is mere illusion not true the technical explanation goes as :- any body falling freely in air attain a maximum velocity for its fall called terminal velocity which depends on the size /area of body for example a skydiver attains a maximum velocity of 120 kmph during his free fall thus a car having a similar velocity will not catch fire.
but meteorites do as their velocity of entrance in atmosphere is way too high.
2006-08-10 03:01:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, just movie effects, its actually very rare for a car to catch fire after an accident
2006-08-10 00:04:43 · answer #8 · answered by Rich S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, but Hollywood does wonders to make things look very real
2006-08-10 00:01:54 · answer #9 · answered by Ladder Captain-29 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the movies, YES.
2006-08-09 23:59:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋