* Impact and Deformation: When the cars collide, their front ends crumple and deform. This deformation absorbs energy from the impact, slowing the cars down.
* Transfer of Momentum: During the collision, momentum is transferred between the cars. This means the car that was initially moving faster will lose some of its momentum, while the car that was moving slower will gain momentum.
* Forces and Acceleration: The collision creates immense forces that cause rapid acceleration (or deceleration) of the cars. The acceleration is not constant, but changes drastically as the cars deform and interact.
In short: The first tenth of a second of a car collision is a period of rapid and complex changes in the speeds of the vehicles involved. The initial speeds are just the starting point; everything changes dramatically during the impact.
