If I drive my car through a corner slowly I’ll be fine. If I go fast, the car will skid off the road. All the materials are the same, the execution is the same. The only difference is over what amount of time this happens? The example is not important, the same goes for pretty much anything. Filling a bottle, ripping a sheet of paper..
I understand this from a intuitive perspective, but I wonder if someone can explain why time matters in physics in a simple way. What is the fundamental difference between doing something fast vs. slow.
I’m sure this is a silly question if you know some thermal dynamics or special relativity, but remember, I’m only 5!
In: Physics
The relationship between time and the dynamics in turning a corner are not so linear, as you suggest.
Momentum is defined as mass x distance / time. If a given mass travels a given distance in time t, as t becomes small momentum becomes very big.
With a large momentum, a turn requires a large change in momentum. If you change your momentum in a time t, the force required is inversely proportional to t. That is, the faster you go, the smaller t is, and the larger the force is.
In a world where everything was perfectly rigid (cells in your body included), you most likely wouldn’t notice a difference between a fast and slow turn. However, literally everything which composes us and objects is made of atoms and molecules, which are held together through various forces. The larger the force applied, the easier it is for said force to deform or rip an object.
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