Can a tiny pea sized pepple crack a car windshield?

[spidey07]

I had no idea such a tiny, smaller than a pea pebble could crack your windshied. I remember hearing the TACK and thought nothing of it. Next day there was a crack and you could see the tiny pebble lodged in the winshield.

It hit near the seal by about a inch so could that have anything to do with it?

 

[Leros]

A tiny pebble going very fast hits your windshield and expends all of its energy into one small point of your windshield.

 

[mugs]

One of my friends has had his window chipped at least 5 times due to flying pebbles, but every time he takes it to the glass place ASAP to get it filled so it won't turn into a crack. I tell him to quit following so closely. (although I guess if he was THAT close the pebbles would hit his bumper, which looks beat to hell as well. )

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Leros
A tiny pebble going very fast hits your windshield and expends all of its energy into one small point of your windshield.

Well it had to have been going fast. The sound was of the "WTF was that!" variety.

 

[Leros]

On a related note. That reminds me of the time I let my dad borrow my car. The windshield was iced over and he grew impatient waiting for it thaw, so he begun tapping the ice off with a rubber mallet and cracked my windshield. Not sure why he didn't use an ice scraper.

I fear for my genes.

 

[DVK916]

I have seen a pea size pebble cause a side window to shater into a million pieces. Litterly, it exploded into tiny pieces, on impact.

But this was a passenger wide window, on not the windshield, so it might be different.

 

[villageidiot111]

In the winter those tiny cracks can turn into huge ones while you defrost your windshield.

 

[AtlantaBob]

I had the same thing happen to me. Yes, it can happen.

Check with your insurance to see if they'll repair it. Mine (GEICO) will, as long as it's less than 6", for free (no deductible, anything).

However, as others have said, if you wait, it will expand.

And yes, a pebble hit mine about 10 mm away from the &@$! metal strut.

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: DVK916
I have seen a pea size pebble cause a side window to shater into a million pieces. Litterly, it exploded into tiny pieces, on impact.

But this was a passenger wide window, on not the windshield, so it might be different.

Passenger Side Windows are thinner?

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Imagine riding a motorcycle with no windscreen or helmet...

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: intogamer

Originally posted by: DVK916
I have seen a pea size pebble cause a side window to shater into a million pieces. Litterly, it exploded into tiny pieces, on impact.

But this was a passenger wide window, on not the windshield, so it might be different.

Passenger Side Windows are thinner?

Most windshields these days are laminated safety glass. Which basically means the window won't shatter into pieces.

 

[imported_Tick]

K=.5mv^2

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: BigJ
Most windshields these days are laminated safety glass. Which basically means the window won't shatter into pieces.

'these days'? Just how old are you anyway? Laminated glass has been standard since the late 20's and are required by law in the US.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: BrunoPuntzJones
Imagine riding a motorcycle with no windscreen or helmet...

Taken many a bug to the head. It sucks much more than a crack in a car's front glass.

But for such a tiny thing to do this, there has to be something about being so close to the glue/seal.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: intogamer

Originally posted by: DVK916
I have seen a pea size pebble cause a side window to shater into a million pieces. Litterly, it exploded into tiny pieces, on impact.

But this was a passenger wide window, on not the windshield, so it might be different.

Passenger Side Windows are thinner?

Most windshields these days are laminated safety glass. Which basically means the window won't shatter into pieces.

That's "All" windshields are laminated. And the rest of the windows aren't, meaning they'll shatter into the proverbial "million pieces".

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: BrunoPuntzJones
Imagine riding a motorcycle with no windscreen or helmet...

Taken many a bug to the head. It sucks much more than a crack in a car's front glass.

But for such a tiny thing to do this, there has to be something about being so close to the glue/seal.

Hah, try driving a Jeep around with the windshield folded down. You will be eating bugs.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Hah, try driving a Jeep around with the windshield folded down. You will be eating bugs.

Hah, that's why we don't go much faster than 65 in the jeep.

Try getting a TICK stuck in your eyeball and he's frantically borrowing deep riding a bike. That sucks.

 

[PhlashFoto]

Originally posted by: Tick
K=.5mv^2

I was thinking more along the lines of F=ma

But K works too.

 

[Aikouka]

Focusing force on a small point is different than the same force on a "larger point." It's why your fist may not be able to easily break a car window, but I guarantee with the same force, a screwdriver could do it. Not sure what the physics guys would call it... Area of Impact?

 

[FleshLight]

Originally posted by: Aikouka
Focusing force on a small point is different than the same force on a "larger point." It's why your fist may not be able to easily break a car window, but I guarantee with the same force, a screwdriver could do it. Not sure what the physics guys would call it... Area of Impact?

Pressure.

P = Force / Area

 

[RallyMaster]

Depends on the velocitah of the pebble in question. If the force exerted by that moving pebble relative to the glass is more than your windshield can push back, then you may have a cracked windshield kthx.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: RallyMaster
Depends on the velocitah of the pebble in question. If the force exerted by that moving pebble relative to the glass is more than your windshield can push back, then you may have a cracked windshield kthx.

yeah, yeah. Vectors, physics, F=MA.

Does the fact that it was that close to the seam have something to do with it?

MSEE chime in.

 

[RallyMaster]

lawl, you graduated from Purdue, you should know dis already

 

[OutHouse]

i love living in colorado but there is one thing i hate.

cracked windshields! :|

I am on my third windshield on my 2004 camry :| :| :|

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: Citrix
i love living in colorado but there is one thing i hate.

cracked windshields! :|

I am on my third windshield on my 2004 camry :| :| :|

Does Colorado have gravel roads everywhere or something?