what happens if something unstoppable hits something unmoveable?

Answer 1

it depends on the inertia of the two entities....

if the unstoppable has very less mass and very high velocity(obviously) as compared..then the unstoppable body will come to an abrupt halt thereby causing a tremendous change in momentum of the body, and this will give rise to a force which will act on the unmovable body...heres a mathematical explanation
LEGEND:

mass of unstopable= m
mass of unmovable= M
velocity of unstopable = V
velocity of unmovable = 0

***assumption:- M>>m
momentum of unstopable body = m*V

final velocity of unstoppable after hitting second object = 0(approx)

change in momentum of unstoppable= m*V - m*0
= m*V
now, we already know that
force(F) = rate of change of momentum
therefore,
force= d/dt(m*V)

now the magnitude of this force will be very high as the time taken for the change in momentum will be very less and the momentum changed will be very high.

******now since the unmovable object has an infinitely high mass the force wil not be able to move it.....but then the force will try to do some work on it which will result in the generation of energy in the form of heat and/or light+sound**********

Answer 2

Do you have any idea how many times this question has been asked? It's almost as bad as the why is the sky blue? question and the one about why we have tides. I realise I'm not going to get a best answer this way but today I really couldn't care less.

But, to answer it, something has to give because there's energy in the unstoppable thing and when the two collide, that energy has got to go somewhere. The unmovable object might crack, or even (shock horror) move, and the unstoppable thing might plough through it, deflect or even lose its energy and pass it on to the unmovable object which will either crack or move. Of course some of the enrgy will pass on anyway due to friction, so the unstoppable force will in fact be losing energy even as it approaches the unmovable object, and when it hits it, well even more will be lost.

I was about to mention testing it by running head first into a brick wall but I can't be bothered to be nasty tonight.

Answer 3

By definition, you have a paradox. One will stop being itself. (ie. the unstoppable will stop or the imoveable will move). Failing that, If they both remain true to their description, you would end up with an atomic collision, and oh boy, what a mess! Did you ever see the episode of Knight Rider where Kitt and Carr were on for a head-to-head? Can't give that one away, but... WOW!

Although, (just had a brain-storm!!) This doens't have to be a paradox. No one ever said the unstoppable cant change direction, or the shape of either object. The unstoppable could be deflected (note: Not bounce back in the direction it came, as at some point that would have to be stationary) and therefore it would not be stopped. Also, althogh the unmoveable object deflected the unstoppable object, it did not, itself, move!

Answer 4

Nothing is unmoveable or unstoppable. If you have 2 objects with equal and opposite forces, you have equilibrium therefore they would be still and make both unmoveable. Unstoppable just means that the 1 object it going toward would be still?! Oh I give up, sorry!

Answer 5

All answers to this question are false, since it contains an inherent contradiction.
If something in the universe is unstoppable then by definition there can exist no unmovable objects.
They are two mutually exclusive concepts.

There is another answer tho ... both would be damaged to an unbelievable extent.

Answer 6

it depends on the inertia of the two entities....

if the unstoppable has very less mass and very high velocity(obviously) as compared..then the unstoppable body will come to an abrupt halt thereby causing a tremendous change in momentum of the body, and this will give rise to a force which will act on the unmovable body...heres a mathematical explanation
LEGEND:

mass of unstopable= m
mass of unmovable= M
velocity of unstopable = V
velocity of unmovable = 0

***assumption:- M>>m
momentum of unstopable body = m*V

final velocity of unstoppable after hitting second object = 0(approx)

change in momentum of unstoppable= m*V - m*0
= m*V
now, we already know that
force(F) = rate of change of momentum
therefore,
force= d/dt(m*V)

now the magnitude of this force will be very high as the time taken for the change in momentum will be very less and the momentum changed will be very high.

******now since the unmovable object has an infinitely high mass the force wil not be able to move it.....but then the force will try to do some work on it which will result in the generation of energy in the form of heat and/or light+sound**********

Answer 7

I think the 'unstoppable' will stop and the 'unmoveable' will move.
OR
According to Newton's 3rd law: Every action has an opposite and equal reaction.

Answer 8

I would think the unstoppable will be stopped and the unmoveable will stay where it is, depending on the force of impact. It may be the unmoveable moves!

Answer 9

all hell breaks loose as the unmovable force will do anything for the unstoppable force as they are of equal and opposite power and it is inevitable the two should meet. possibly a big bang and a new world would be created depending on the strength of the two forces in conjunction.

Answer 10

it would never happen, the world, universe, forces of nature would never let it happen. but if you wanted to get specific, give us an unstopable and unmoveable object. wait, nothing is unmoveable? everything is moving! the universe is expanding and will keep expanding whilst growing in speed. so there is no such thing as an unmoveable object.
why dont you just ask if the number 5 is married?