skwarepeg's blog: "Mind Dust"

I didn’t take much science, but I do know that physics is a broad and complicated subject. Some of the principles of quantum physics, while fascinating and exciting, are almost unimaginable to me. My understanding of physics is rudimentary, but I think that quantum physics describes the properties of certain particles that defy the laws of physics as we typically know them. Despite a persistent and pervasive following, however, there is not a specialized branch of “traffic physics” that describes the unique physical properties of, or laws governing, vehicles in traffic.

Here’s a completely hypothetical situation:

Let’s say I’m driving in the left-hand lane on some hypothetical freeway – say 190 in Dallas – at 70 mph. There is a car in front of me driving at 70 mph. There are several cars in front of that car. You are driving behind me.

The physics lesson:

Whether I am six inches behind the car in front of me or 300 feet behind it, we are still going 70 mph. The velocity…. remains the same! Decreasing the distance between two moving objects of similar mass traveling at the same velocity does not create force or something or other, nor does it then have some sort of electromagnetic or mysterious traffodynamic reaction that increases said velocity.

Conclusions based on the previous information:

**The distance between my car and the one in front of me is sometimes called a “safe following distance.” It isn’t actually; it’s just slightly safe than driving bumper to bumper, but at least I am trying.

**It does not indicate that I am slowing the progress of the fast lane.

**I can only infer this, but it must be such a relief for you to now be able to relax and return that knobby finger of yours to whichever orifice usually houses it.

Disclaimer: The examples cited above are completely fictional. Any resemblance to real persons or situations, or the incorrect use of the collective “you,” is entirely unintentional, unless, of course, you are the jackass that flipped me off this morning for this.