Fatal impact – the physics of speeding cars
Activities
Exploratorium (USA)
Tired weight – calculate the weight of a car by using air pressure.
Downhill race – show that acceleration depends on how the mass is distributed.
Car science (Paul Doherty, USA)
Reaction time – measure the distance a ruler falls before you catch it.
Accelerometer – measure acceleration with a protractor.
Highway seismograph – measure the magnitude of road bumps with a pen and paper.
On-line Math Applications! (ThinkQuest Junior, USA)
Safety – calculate car stopping distances for different speeds (in miles per hour).
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences (West Virginia University, USA)
Driving physics – determine if a car's odometer measures distance or displacement.
Science upd8 (UK)
You need to register to access the following (free) activities.
Fast cars – student activities on cars including graph interpretation and fill-in-the blanks.
High speed smash – students consider balanced and unbalanced forces and their effect on the motion of a drag car.
High speed risk – students practice their graph plotting skills and increase their understanding of ethical issues by exploring the risks and benefits of sanctioning high speed driving.
Think 30 for a reason – students compare crashes at two speeds and factors affecting vehicle stopping distances.
2learn.ca Educators Resource (Canada)
Stoplight physics (reaction time applet) – this web activity will reinforce fundamental concepts of velocity, acceleration and frictional force by using the 'reaction time applet' to explore the relationship between the initial velocity and traction of a car and the distance it takes to skid to a stop.
Page updated June 2007.