This question is regarding Knight Rider type shows when a car drives up a moving open trailer. Once the moving car hits the ramp of the trailer wont it surge forward because the ramp is not moving like the ground was moving underneath the tires?
2007-06-15 10:57:53 · 4 answers · asked by forrstarr 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
it's all about inertia. The car and the truck are moving at the same speed. The tires of the car are rotating at their speed. When they go from 50 to 0 (upon making contact with the ramp), their angular momentum is transfered to the car. However, the wheels way far less than the car. The bump in energy to the car is hardly noticable.
This was shown on a recent "Mythbusters".
2007-06-15 11:04:45 · answer #1 · answered by Dave T 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if the car (we'll take a firebird just like knight rider) pulls up to the trailer gets the front tires up and then hit the clutch as soon as the rear tires get up on the ramp. if the driver accelerated enough then there should be enough momentum to carry him up into the trailer.
it could be done but it would be tricky, you'd have to be a heck of a driver, or just practiced lots.
2007-06-15 18:05:53 · answer #2 · answered by Tim C 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If they move at the same speed, there can't be a collision, since the car won't overtake the trailer to hit it.
2007-06-15 18:02:57 · answer #3 · answered by cattbarf 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on if the car is front or rear wheel drive, it would affect how much of a "surge" you would see, but it would surge somewhat.
2007-06-15 18:01:21 · answer #4 · answered by O Great One 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋