• sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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    14 hours ago

    Yes, you’re off base.

    The amount of force you experience has nothing to do with the vehicle you’re in, but the acceleration (positive or negative) you experience. In the case of a brake check, the only factors are starting speed, ending speed, and time. It doesn’t matter if you’re increasing speed (positive acceleration) or slowing down (negative acceleration), the total force will be the same (just different directions).

    Here are some formulas:

    • acceleration = change in velocity / change in time
    • force = mass * acceleration

    In this case, the mass is your mass, since you’re the one experiencing the acceleration.

    If you’re riding a bicycle at 15mph and slam on the brakes and stop in 10 feet, you’ll feel exactly the same force as being in a massive truck going 15mph and stop in 10 feet.