Automobile collisions can be studied safely in the laboratory, demonstrating force and acceleration with model cars. The graph below is excerpted from The Science of Cars: Volume 2 from Schottenbauer Publishing.
Discussion Questions
- Is the accelerometer on the car or the Hummer? How can this be determined?
- What is the maximum acceleration?
- What is the maximum force?
- How many collisions are shown in the graph?
- For each collision, state the acceleration and force involved in the collision.
- Calculate the average acceleration and average force across all collisions.
- Estimate the average force and average acceleration prior to the collisions.
- Write a proportion which relates the average force of impact to the average force prior to the collision.
- Write a proportion which relates the average acceleration at impact to the average acceleration prior to the collision.
- Does the angle of collision affect the impact? How?
Additional Information
The most basic education in classical physics requires an understanding of one-dimensional and two-dimensional motion. These can be illustrated and analyzed through a variety of graphs.
The topic of transportation is ideal for studying trajectory. Basic physics equations pertain to all types of transportation.
Below are two examples of trajectories, the first modeled by a radio-controlled toy SUV and the second by a radio-controlled toy car. These graphs are excerpted from The Science of Cars: Volume 3 from Schottenbauer Publishing.
Discussion Questions
- In how many dimensions does the SUV move? a) 1, b) 2, c) 3.
- What is the total distance the SUV moves?
- What is the average velocity of the SUV?
- What is the average acceleration of the SUV?
- In how many dimensions does the car move? a) 1, b) 2, c) 3.
- What is the total distance the car moves?
- What is the average velocity of the car?
- What is the average acceleration of the car?
Additional Information
