this post was submitted on 02 May 2025
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xkcd

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Title text:

Unstoppable force-carrying particles can't interact with immovable matter by definition.

Transcript:

[An arrow pointing to the right and a trapezoid are labeled as 'Unstoppable Force' and 'Immovable Object' respectively.]
[The arrow is shown as entering the trapezoid from the left and the part of it in said trapezoid is coloured gray.]
[The arrow is shown as leaving the trapezoid to the right and is coloured black.]
[Caption below the panel:] I don't see why people find this scenario to be tricky.

Source: https://xkcd.com/3084/

explainxkcd for #3084

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago

The thrust of your car engine is a very stoppable force.

Concrete walls are resilient, but can be moved.

What will happen is that the kinetic energy from the collision will crumple the front part of your car, as the concrete wall applies an equal and opposite force. Ideally, the fact that some of the energy is “used” in deforming your car (and subsequently escapes as heat) decreases the amount of kinetic energy that is used to deform you.