which would cause more damage to two cars, a head-on collision or a collision at an angle. Why?

Answer 1

HEAD ON
SPEED OF IMPACT IS GREATER DUE TO SPEED IS INCREASED AT MOMMENT OF IMPACT.
THE COMBINED SPEED AT IMPACT.

Answer 2

All other things being equal, a head on collision would incur less damage than one that is offset, or at an angle. The reason is that cars are meant to absorb a lot of energy through the compression of the crushing zones in the front, essentially the engine compartment. As a consequence, although the front of a car can be totaled, the rest might be salvageable.
With an angle, the rest of the car migh be damaged also, perhaps not as extensively, but perhaps still beyond repair.
For low speed impact, the bumpers are meant to absorb energy without damage to the car. On a side, even at a much lower speed, you are expecting extensive damage on the body work.
A final note: a perfectly head-on collision will not distort the overall car structure; but any offset will cause torsion to the frame or unit body; again possibly making the vehicle damaged beyond reasonable repair.

Answer 3

If two cars of equal mass traveling at the same speed collide head-on, conservation of momentum tells you that they will come to a dead stop at the point of collision. Thus, all the kinetic energy is absorbed in the crash. In an angled collision, the cars will move apart, thus retaining some kinetic energy. So less energy is absorbed in the crash, and overall, less damage is done.

In the real world, angle impacts sometimes cause the more serious injuries, for a variety of reasons. In a side impact, there's a lot less metal between you and the other car, for example.

Answer 4

The head-on. This results from f = Ma = M dv/dt; where dv/dt is the change in velocity over time (aka, acceleration) and M is the mass of the two cars m1 and m2. Thus the force of a head-on will be greater because the change in velocity will be greater than a side on collision.

We can see this by assuming the two cars are heading right for each other. The relative velicity is the sum of the velocity of the two cars. For example v1 = 88 fps (60 mph) and v2 = 44 fps (30 mph), when they run head on, the change in relative velocity goes from v1 + v2 = 132 fps (90 mph) to zero, nada, niente, nichts...a change of 132 fps in a very short time.

Now let's assume car 1 broadsides car 2. The relative velocity is the vector sum of the two velocities intersencting at right angles (the broadside). Thus v = sqrt(88^2 + 44^2) = 98 fps. So when the two, now enmeshed cars come to a halt, they've lost only 98 fps velocity compared to the 132 fps lost with the head on. Since the change in velocity for the broadside is less than the headon the force of the headon collision (therefore the damage) would be greater than the broadside.

This is true for all the other angles, too. They will incure less damage (all other things equal) than a headon. For the same reason, the relative velocities will be less than for a head on; so the change in velocity over time (acceleration) will be less and, thus, the forces will be less than a head on due to f = ma.

Answer 5

The head on impact would cause more damage. If you are travelling at 50mph, and someone is travelling in the opposite direction at 50 mph, and you both hit; this is like driving into a wall at 100 mph.

Answer 6

Listen. Using vectors and resultants we figure that a head on collison would be the worst right? Not exactly. A crash from the side could spark the gas tank causing an explosion and most likely not activate the airgbags. Confusing? Not really when ya look at it.