Crash Tests: Energy & Collisions

Why are there car seat and seatbelt guidelines?

Course

Science+

Subjects

Science

Grade Levels

Duration (hours)

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Overview

Through this module, your students will discover why safety devices like seat belts and car seats are an important part of high speed travel. In the phenomena picture, Brittany and Sierra are going for a car ride. Brittany wonders why there are laws about using seat belts and car seats for kids.

Standards

4-PS3-1

4-PS3-3

3-5 ETS1-3

Cyber Connections

Cyber Career Awareness

Lessons

Focus Question: Why are there car seat and seatbelt guidelines?

Guide students in developing a class focus question about the phenomenon. Why are there car seat and seatbelt guidelines?

Discovery 1: What is the relationship between speed and energy?

Students will look at different examples of things with more or less energy. They will also experiment with cars and two different ramps. Students will use evidence from their experiment and research to answer the discovery question.

Discovery 2: What happens when objects collide?

This discovery has students questioning and exploring what happens when two objects collide. Collisions result in a change in motion and a transfer of energy to the surrounding air as heat and sound. Students conduct several investigations to understand what is happening. Students also develop a model of the change in energy when objects collide.

Discovery 3: How can we reduce the impact of collisions?

In this discovery students will research crash test dummies and car seat safety guidelines in each state. Students will analyze data and graph their findings. Students will be exploring the safest way for members of their family to travel.

Engineering Design: Safety Belt

Your team has been tasked with designing the safest possible safety belt. The car is ready except for this critical component, and you have a release deadline that is approaching soon.