Momentum & Force: Comparing 2 Situations | Which Results in Greatest Impact?

[Supaiku]

2 Situations.
One: Two identical cars crash head on (inelasticly) @ v miles per hour each (in opposide directions of course).
Two: A car identical to those two cards crashes (inelasticly) @ v miles per hour into a brick wall (ie. solid and unmovable... although I have seen pics of a car that just went through a brick wall...).
Wich of the two situations results in the greatest impact force.

Which answer?
The forces are the same in both.
Hitting the other car (One>Two).

P=momentum
J=impulse

I figure F (impluse; whatever) =delta(P) right? So in the first situation delta P is greater since they have opposing velocites (-P and P).
But if you do P+J=0 then J=P in both cases right?

I'm pretty confused; what's right and why? HElps mes!

 

[marlon]

in the first situation the impuls transfert is bigger due to the two moving objects...
in the second situation only the car has impulse p...

maybe this will help...

regards
marlon

 

[Doc Al]

The impulse on each car is the same in both situations.

 

[Supaiku]

Ya, I got it now. I sort of misunderstook what was being asked... they are both right depending weather you interpert the question correctly or not :p