Key Points
Collision Model
- The analysis models the collision between the Titanic and the iceberg as a ship colliding with an immovable, smooth object.
- Assumptions include the ship’s speed, angle of impact, and the ship’s displacement.
Calculation Assumptions
- Approach speed
- Speed at impact (reduced due to hydrodynamic drag in the turn).
- Angle of impact
- Titanic’s displacement
- Kinetic energy before impact
Impact Dynamics
- The ship was turning to port under hard-astarboard helm at the time of collision.
- The pivot point was located approximately 160 feet aft of the bow.
Energy and Force Calculations
- Energy loss from collision
- Contact impulse
- Added rotational velocity
- Velocity of the ship after collision
- Sway velocity after collision
Perceptibility of Collision
- The total energy loss was small, and the ship’s speed was not significantly reduced.
- Many eyewitnesses reported the collision as barely perceptible, with some describing it as a grinding sound or slight vibration.
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