Eli5: Why can you feel the forces of the car more as a passenger than the driver
In: Physics
[removed]
Driver is taking preventative measures to counter movement because they know what is going to happen. They also have both hands braced on the steering wheel.
Passenger is largely reacting to forces as they happen.
[removed]
Both the driver and the passenger feel the forces of a car equally.
The difference is that the driver is anticipating those forces because they are the ones in control of the vehicle.
For example when turning the driver will subconsciously brace themselves in anticipation of the slight increase in G-force. The Driver also braces themselves when accelerating or braking because they know it’s coming. It becomes instinctive behavior.
The driver knows what’s coming and is prepared for it, if only subconsciously. They are also braced to operate the vehicle. Operating the wheels/pedals/shifter not only gives you more points of contact it requires that you’re settled well enough to apply force comfortably. Not a HUGE change, but neither are the forces applied to occupants in day to day driving so its still ebough to make a difference. It can be a big difference in more extreme situations, too. Bracing on the wheel when you slam on the brakes, for example.
passengers generally aren’t doing that and don’t even have the wheel available at all.
People are saying “because the driver knows what will happen”. Is there a specific name for this phenomenon? I thought there was but I can’t remember.
Even less sure of this one, but is it also related to things like why most people can’t tickle themselves even if they are ticklish? The idea you track and compensate for your own motions and physical gestures/decisions?
Movements that take you by surprise are felt more than those you anticipate and cause. It’s similar to how food that you cooked yourself doesn’t taste as great as food someone else cooked for you.
As a driver you are bracing for the up coming changes while a passenger is being pushed/pulled around by them. Passenger is fighting the changes so it feels like they are experiencing it more.
If you put a steering wheel in front of the passenger for them to hold onto, they’d feel largely the same.
The rest would be about prediction/preparation. I drive tandem quite a lot on track, me and my buddy do alternate sessions and swap driver/passenger, and it’s really interesting how your perception changes- you feel way more “thrown around” if you’re in the first passenger session, but once you’ve done a session as driver you start to move and predict and react almost the same as you do as the driver, and suddenly you feel less like a sack of spuds. It even becomes intuitive to put foot pressure down as you enter braking zones etc.
For years at autocrosses I have said that the passenger seat goes 10 mph faster than the rest of the car.
My first passenger ride in a car with racing tires was AMAZING. It felt so fast then hard braking and slaloms.
Latest Answers