Airbag jackets? Your thoughts? (now other gear questions)

[Evan]

newtons first law would only apply if the rider separated from the motorcycle before the accident.

Not exactly - if the rider ejects from the bike, he's going to maintain speed unless a force is exerted to slow (or accelerate) them. In this case air resistance, gravity, and road rash (titty rash?) will slow him down... but launching off the bike wont speed him up.

I agree with your point, but newtons first law still doesnt (directly) apply. The first law applies to objects with no net forces. The accident itself is most definately a force that is affecting the motion of the rider. You cant say that in an accident the rider will continue on the same path when he gets in a wreck. The 2nd law is more applicable where you take into account the force vector of the wreck.
ISAT 142 flashbacks!


Also, I dont agree with Derek's conclusion that the rider could be accelerated, but the logic isnt so far off to deserve insults from you guys.
In concept, centripetal acceleration could be applied using the front wheel as a point of rotation and the bike as a lever arm rotating faster the longer the lever arm is and 'catapulting' the rider.
Just like a high-side.
The law of conservation of energy is probably where the theory of accelerating the rider falls down, but who knows, there are a lot of forces in the equation and they are not only in motion.

We have all seen high-sides where the rider is tossed further than the bike so while I dont think it applies here the insults are most definately not warranted to this line of thinking.