Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Dodge Nitro TV ad

As I've been cheering on the DEtroit Tigers in the World Series, I've been exposed to an ad for the Dodge Nitro. Frequently. And I couldn't help but notice some kinematics problems embedded in the ad. The plot is that an ordinary car in need of a jump start is aided by a Dodge Nitro. The Nitro's power overwhelms the ailing car and launches it sky-high. Having gone up, the car eventually comes back down. But only after what can best be described as a "TV ad eternity."

You can watch the commercial here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svq4Yu82ohs

Check my math. I have the launch speed of the car at about 100 mph and the apex of the car's flight being about 100 meters above the parking lot asphalt.

Sadly, even with a good estimate of the car's weight (or mass), I cannot hazard a guess as to the launching force. Don't you hate it when that happens?

4 comments:

Lethal said...

haha, that was funny; I bookmarked that link on youtube.

Dean Baird said...

YouTube is certainly a groovy technology, rich with potential. And I like that I can blast that commercial out in my classroom not having taken the trouble to try to Tivo it myself. Which would have been especially difficult since I don't have Tivo.

Anonymous said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eMMVW_0khI&eurl=

I know The Simpsons Movie probably isn't the best example of proper physics, but the end of this trailer breaks some rules.

Anonymous said...

what the hell is Beachs? ...that is not even grammatically correct