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Paper Car Collision Engineering Project

This document outlines a paper car engineering project where students will design and build a paper car to safely transport a raw egg passenger upon impact with a wall. Students are provided constraints on materials that can be used, including 3 pieces of paper, wheels/axles, and limited additional materials. Cars must be labeled with information and meet physical requirements. Students will brainstorm designs, select a design, build a prototype, collect test data on mass, dimensions, velocity, momentum and force, and analyze results. The goal is for students to apply physics concepts like momentum, force and Newton's laws to build a car that protects the egg passenger.

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231 views

Paper Car Collision Engineering Project

This document outlines a paper car engineering project where students will design and build a paper car to safely transport a raw egg passenger upon impact with a wall. Students are provided constraints on materials that can be used, including 3 pieces of paper, wheels/axles, and limited additional materials. Cars must be labeled with information and meet physical requirements. Students will brainstorm designs, select a design, build a prototype, collect test data on mass, dimensions, velocity, momentum and force, and analyze results. The goal is for students to apply physics concepts like momentum, force and Newton's laws to build a car that protects the egg passenger.

Uploaded by

api-489549608
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name_________________________________per___date___________

 
Paper Car Collision Engineering Project- ​Part 1 

Purpose:​ Using your knowledge of physics, design and build a paper car that will reduce the amount
of force applied to a passenger (raw egg), so the passenger survives upon impact to a wall.
You may work with a partner or by yourself.

Criteria Constraints
Using your knowledge of Newton’s Laws of Motion, build a You may only use the following materials:
car that will keep your driver (Mr/Mrs. Raw Egg) safe, ● 3 pieces copy paper
without any broken bones, when released from the top of ● Given wheels, axles, and one straw for axle
a ramp to be stopped by a wall. ● Hot glue on paper only. NO TAPE
● Markers or colored pencils to decorate car. No
ALL vehicles ​must visibly display​ the following stickers or paint
information on their car body: ● Vehicle design must allow for easy egg
access/removal. (plastic egg can be used for
-Vehicle name sizing)
● You may choose ​ONE​ item from the “crumple
-Builders name(s)
zone” box. (sponges, popsicle sticks, plastics or
-Vehicle length (cm) cardboard) and must be glued on as a
bumper/crumple zone.
-Vehicle mass (g)
● Design needs to withstand 2-3 trials/collisions
without replacement parts or repairs
● Meet these ​physical requirements:
Wheels and axles need to be RETURNED after the project
Length= <16.5 cm Width= <6.5 cm Mass= <40
​ O glue is allowed on the wheels or your ​team
is over. N
grams, without the driver
will lose points​ on their final grade.
● No airbags or seat belts allowed
● An iPhone 6 MUST be able to be attached onto
your car.

BRAINSTORM:​ Sketch (per person) two ​different c​ ar designs for your egg that ​include measurements​ (see
constraints) and labels. Name your vehicle! Be detailed. (12 points). ​You may want to research crumple zones and
bumper safety in the Paper Car Collision engineering Project folder on Schoology.

Name of Vehicle________________________ Name of Vehicle_______________________


SELECT​: Using a decision matrix select which design you will create. (10 points)
Remember that 3= best, 2= better, 1= ok and count the total points.

Good Crumple Easy to build Driver is easily Meets physical TOTAL


Zone removed for requirements POINTS
inspection

Partner A Design 1

Partner A Design 2

Partner B Design 1

Partner B Design 2

Name of winning design_____________________________ (1 point).


Each team member SUBMIT a picture of the winning design to “Chosen Car Design” Check when done

Prototype:​ NOW it’s time to build you winning design. Bring me your sketch to gather your materials. (10 pts)

After its built each team member will submit a picture of the prototype with it next to its sketch. Make sure I can
see BOTH the prototype and sketch. Submit TWO pictures if you have to. Leave all materials in the Ziploc Bag

Check when submitted ​{Does it look like the sketch? It is colored, labeled (see criteria)}

Scientific Background: ​1) Write an *equation, if applicable 2) Define the term


1. Mass-

2. *Velocity-

3. *Force-

4. *Acceleration-

5. *Momentum-

6. Law of Conservation of Momentum-

7. Newton’s 3rd Law-


PART 2
Test Data
1. Place your car on the scale and record mass (g).
2. Measure your car’s length and width in centimeters. Record.
3. When you have completed your measurements, one team member must fill out the Google Form “Ready to test.”
4. Work on your vocabulary while you wait. Please remain seated during the crash testing.

Table 1: Car physical dimensions (measurements) 6 pts

Length (cm) Width (cm) Mass (g)

My paper car BEFORE

My paper car AFTER

Table 2: Car Momentum (7pts)


Distance (m) Time (s) Mass (g) Velocity Momentum (J) Egg Results:
(m/s) mass x velocity No injuries
Injured (cracked)
Died

Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 3

Average Momentum ____________ J

Table 3: Force of the Car before impact (10 pts)


Mass (g) Use same value Acceleration (m/s​2​) Force (N) F=ma
for all 3 trials

Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 3

Average Force ____________N


**SUBMIT team data under Google Form ​“Race Day data” ​(objects move and collide folder, then car project folder)

STOP - did you submit data and complete data tables? 


1. How does Newton’s 3rd Law relate to this investigation?

 
 
.​
2​ Using the class ​“Race Day Data”​ construct a line graph showing the relationship between mass and
momentum.

​Relationship of Mass and Momentum


3. Discuss any patterns between momentum
and egg survivability?

Momentum and Egg Survivability


Egg Survivability (use for graphing)
1 = survived all 3 trials
2 = survived all 3, but with injuries
3 = died on 3rd trial
4 = died on 2nd trial
5 = died on 1st trial

4, ​What did you learn from this project?

​STAPLE PART 1 AND 2 HANDOUTS AND TURN IN TO DRAWER

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