Homework Help: Science - Physics

Posted by Chris on Monday, August 3, 2009 at 3:39am.

How can I investigate what happens to the occupants of a car when the car is in a collision in which it collides head on with a solid object (in my example, it will be a brick), and when a stationary car is hit from behind by a moving car.
What I am using:
Plasticine people
Small carts for cars
Ramps to accelerate the car
And other requested materials

Thank you very much to any one that can provide assistance, I am thinking about becoming an engineer and for me I have found that I ALWAYS learn best by example.

What I would like to know:
How can I construct my model and what should I use
How can I measure and record the damage to the car occupants in each crash
How can I fairly test the effect of increasing the speed of the moving car
How can I fairly test the effect of having my people wear seat belts (use rubber bands? any better ideas?)
How can I fairly test the effect of having a heavier vehicle crash into the rear of my test car (this one is pretty simple, just add some weight to the other cart)
How could I test having an air bag to protect the driver

Science - Physics - bobpursley, Monday, August 3, 2009 at 4:29am
I dont think your plastic people and small carts will fairly test the effects you seek. You would be better using larger "models", and real life force/impact sensors. These are really not so difficult to obtain, most schools even have these sensors as plug-ins to computers.
Science - Physics - Chris, Monday, August 3, 2009 at 6:11pm
Thanks for the suggestion, however I have to complete it using small models with plasticine etc.
It doesn't need to be highly accurate, I just need something that can show a difference between the 2 types of crashes I suppose.
Science - Physics - Chris, Wednesday, August 5, 2009 at 2:19am
All good, can be closed

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