Activity 73Choosing A Safe Vehicle

Activity 73: Choosing A Safe Vehicle

0Challenge Which vehicle do you think is safer?

0Key Vocabulary:0Evidence0Advantage0Disadvantage0Trade-off0physics

Warm-Up

0Write the words CAR ACCIDENT in your notes. Write down the first ten things that come to mind when you hear those words.

0Did you know that car accidents…0 The leading cause of death by unintentional injury for

ages 1-440 Most commonly affect people ages 15-24 and over 75

0What do car accidents have to do with science?0Understanding the physics of why and how

cars move help engineers to design better, safer cars

How has this been evident over time?

What is PHYSICS?

0Physics is the science that deals with matter, energy, motion, and force.

0Evidence is information that is gained by direct observation or from reliable sources and can be used to formulate ideas about the natural world.

0What measurements do you think scientists and engineers find useful when studying car safety and accidents?

0As we move through this unit, we will be learning the specifics of forces and motion that helps engineers and scientists make vehicles safer

What about different types of vehicles?

0Each vehicle has a Crash-Test Rating0 This is a five-star rating scale developed by the

National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) that is used to determine the likelihood of injuries that could occur from a collision

Front-End Collisions0 Tests are run on each vehicle and a score is given to each

based on three criteria: 0head injury0chest deceleration 0 femur load

Rear-End Collisions

0 This is a four-level, color-coded system used by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS):0Good = green0Acceptable = yellow0Marginal = orange0Poor = red

Procedures (Page E-5)

1. Lets read the introduction together as a class.2. With a partner from your group, complete steps 1

and 2.3. Get a copy of Student Sheet 73.1 from your teacher.4. Continue to steps 3 and 4.

Advantages/ Disadvantages

0 What are some of the advantages for Car 1?0 What are some disadvantages?

0 What are some of the advantages for Car 2?0 What are some disadvantages?

0 What are some of the trade-offs of choosing one of these cars? (What advantages are you giving up to gain a different advantage?)

Procedures (Page E-5)

1. Continue to Part B.2. Complete steps 5-7 with your partner now.

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Analysis Questions

0AQ3: What factors other than safety do people consider when buying a car?

People typically consider looks (color, style), price, cargo size, how many passengers can fit, and fuel economy. It is likely that people think that looks are important feature, although performance or price are also important.

0AQ4: Do you think that features can:0 A: reduce damage, injuries, and fatalities in car

accidents? Explain

Features such as seat belts or airbags reduce the effects of accidents by padding the impact

0 B: prevent accidents?

Brakes that function well or mirrors and visors improve the ability to see can prevent accidents.

Height can prevent rollovers and that better handling (or even greater acceleration) can help drivers avoid accidents

0AQ5: Which vehicle do you think is safer?

If you support Vehicle 1 the greater height or mass, lower top speed, or slower acceleration make it more safe

If you support Vehicle 2 the number of airbags and shorter stopping distance make it more safe.

Follow Up Discussion

1. Look back at what you wrote in your notebooks for procedure step 1. Have you changed your mind about anything since completing the activity?

2. What are some questions about car accidents and car features that you would like answered to help you to decide what makes a safe car?