Abstract
Reconstruction of auto accidents can be performed in a number of ways, depending upon the experience and background of the reconstructionist. Two fundamental laws of physics can theoretically be used: conservation of energy and consemation of momentum. It has been the practice of some engineers to use both these laws when- ever possible, and in so doing they have neglected the transfer of mo- mentum to the earth immediately after impact before the impacted vehicle has changed ita motion. For example, consider one vehicle standing still while another crashes into it. During the first several hundredths of a second both vehicles will experience a crunching of metal structure, but only the moving vehicle will change its motion by slowing down somewhat as the stsnding-still vehicle remains motionless. The reawn for this standing vehicle not moving during the first several hundredths of a second is that the change in momentum of the moving vehicle is transferred through the wheels of the stationary vehicle to the earth because of the friction between tires and roadway. Equations for this two-car collision using conservation of both energy and momentum would be as follows:
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