Ep 3. Crash & Burn

Car Science season 1 episode 3 is titled "Crash & Burn." In this episode, the team takes a closer look at what happens to cars during crashes and how engineers can make them safer.

The episode starts off with host Richard Hammond explaining just how much energy is released during a crash, and how engineers work to absorb that energy and protect the passengers. He then introduces us to Marc, a crash test engineer who is going to put a car through some serious punishment in order to demonstrate just how much damage a crash can do.

Marc starts off with a frontal impact, which is perhaps the most common type of crash. He explains that engineers design cars with crumple zones in the front to absorb energy, and with reinforced sections in the middle to prevent the passenger compartment from collapsing. To demonstrate this effect, the team sets up a crash test with a car driving into a barrier at 30 mph. The result is an impressive demonstration of how the front end of a car crumples up during a crash, while the passenger compartment remains intact.

Next up is a side-impact crash, which is especially dangerous for passengers because there is less structural protection on the sides of the car. Marc explains that engineers use reinforced doors and special side airbags to mitigate the effects of a side impact. To demonstrate this, the team sets up another crash test with a car being struck on the side by a moving barrier. The slow-motion footage of the crash is both stunning and horrifying, but it also shows just how effective the side airbags are at protecting the passengers from injury.

Finally, the team takes a look at what happens during a high-speed rollover, which is one of the most dangerous types of crashes due to the ejection risk. Richard explains that engineers use special rollover cages and other reinforcements to keep the roof from collapsing during a rollover. To demonstrate this, the team sets up a high-speed rollover test, which involves driving a car on a specially designed ramp that rolls the car several times. The footage of the rollover is terrifying, but once again, it demonstrates the effectiveness of the safety features that engineers have designed.

The episode concludes with a discussion of the future of car safety, including self-driving cars and other advanced technologies that could make crashes a thing of the past. While there is still much to be learned about crash safety, the team is clearly passionate about their work and dedicated to making cars as safe as possible.

Overall, "Crash & Burn" is a fascinating look at the science of car crashes and the engineering that goes into making cars safe. With stunning crash test footage and informative explanations from experts in the field, this episode is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who watches it.