Saattaapi sattua
"The ouch factor of a full speed Baja
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I'm an engineering major and I love my physics classes. The study of physics helps to put things into perspective. I was bored so I did a little calculations to put the Baja's power into perspective.
The kinetic energy of a moving object is given by this equation.
KE=(1/2)mv^2 (one half the objects mass x its velocity squared)
30lbs Baja = 13.6kg (kilograms)
40mph = 17.9m/s (meters per second)
Therefore
KE=(1/2)(13.6kg)(17.9m/s)^2
KE=2178.9J (Joules)
Is that alot?
Put it this way. The equation for the Potential Energy by gravity of an object due to it's height above the ground is given by this equation.
PE=mgh (The objects mass x acceleration due to gravity x height above the ground)
If we solve for the mass an object would need if dropped just 6ft (about 2 meters) above the ground such that it had the same KE as the Baja, we have.
2178.9J=m(9.8m/s^2)(2m)
m=111.1kg111kg is about 245pounds!!!
That means that getting hit in the ankles by a 30lbs Baja going 40mph will have the same "ouch factor" as a 245 pound object dropped on your ankles from 6ft off the ground!
Of course there other factors like impact surface area, was it inelastic or elastic, and whether your standing against a wall when it his you or not, but in general the numbers don't lie. These things are powerful!
People you need failsafes."
