In grandpa’s time automobiles were previously manufactured to be as rigid as possible, whereas autos are now designed to crumple upon impact. Why?

During a collision, some of the energy is absorbed by the crumpling metal, rather than being transmitted to the passengers in the compartment.

The shift in automobile design from being rigid to being designed to crumple upon impact is due to advancements in safety engineering. This change has been made to protect the occupants in the event of a collision.

The concept behind designing cars to crumple is known as crashworthiness. Crumple zones are intentionally built into the structure of modern automobiles to absorb and distribute the forces of a collision. These zones are typically located at the front and rear of the vehicle, as well as on the sides.

Here's why cars are now designed to crumple:

1. Energy absorption: When a collision occurs, the crumple zones deform and absorb a significant amount of the impact energy. By deforming, these zones help to slow down the deceleration rate. This means that the energy of the collision is dissipated over a longer period of time, reducing the forces experienced by the occupants inside the car.

2. Occupant protection: The crumpling of the vehicle in a controlled manner helps to prevent sudden deceleration of the occupants. Instead of transferring the full impact force to the occupants, the crumple zones absorb as much energy as possible, reducing the severity of injuries.

3. Collision forces redirection: When a car crumples, it directs and redirects the crash forces away from the occupants. This is achieved by designing the structure in a way that allows controlled deformation, which helps to steer the colliding vehicle away from the passenger compartment.

Overall, the shift from rigid automobile designs to ones that crumple upon impact has significantly improved the safety of passengers. It is important to mention that this is just one aspect of car safety, which also includes seatbelts, airbags, and technological advancements like collision avoidance systems.