1.

2 Explore: Modeling the Vehicle Collisions

ACCIDENT CHALLENGE

Learning Set 1

1.2 Explore: Modeling the Vehicle Collisions

1.2 Explore: Modeling Vehicle

1.2: Part 1 of 3 What happens during a collision?

Car accidents can be traumatic experiences. If you have seen or been in a car accident, you may remember hearing loud noises, seeing bits of cars flying in different directions or parts of cars being deformed or even feeling shaken around inside the vehicle. There are many interactions that occur when one vehicle collides with another vehicle. In order to gain a better understanding of this phenomenon, you will view some short video clips where a strike vehicle is hitting a target vehicle. Think about these questions for each video shown. What do you hear and see during the vehicle collisions? Describe the movement strike vehicle (Vehicle A) before, during, and after the collision. Describe the movement of the target vehicle (Vehicle B) before, during, and after the collision. Think/Pair/Share As you watch the short video clips of actual car collisions, think about the questions below and record your answers on the 1.2 Collision Questions sheet. You will then pair with a partner to discuss the questions, and later share your answers with the class.

CLASS

Watch Video 5

1.2 Explore: Modeling the Vehicle Collisions

1.2: Part 2 of 3 Modeling Collisions
As you analyzed the above videos, it was evident that the target vehicle moved a forward distance when hit by the strike vehicle. At the intersection where car collisions are occurring in McFarland, the target vehicle also moved a forward distance after being hit by the strike vehicle.

Map 3 Previous Years Accident Data

Map 4 - This Years Accident Data

Traffic engineers often measure the distance traveled by the target vehicle after collision to learn more about the cause of the collision. Additionally, they are able to use such distance data from past accidents to better understand the cause of a new accident. While that data is useful, sometimes they need additional information to study these distances. In such cases, traffic engineers have to recreate these collisions. It would be too dangerous to recreate these collisions with human drivers at the actual intersection. They often have to recreate these accidents in a laboratory environment using a model. A model of the real-life situation can test important aspects of a phenomenon under investigation.

1.2 Explore: Modeling the Vehicle Collisions

You are going to view some videos that show vehicle collisions being modeled by traffic engineers in a laboratory setting. Before you watch these videos, review your answers to the questions in Part 1. You will be answering the similar questions on these videos What do you hear and see during the vehicle collisions? Describe the movement strike vehicle (Vehicle A) before, during, and after the collision. Describe the movement of the target vehicle (Vehicle B) before, during, and after the collision. (when applicable) Record these answers on 1.2 Collision Questions Sheet .

STUDENT

Watch model traffic collisions and record your answers to the questions on 1.2 Collision Questions sheet

Watch Video 6

In the videos, you may have noticed that models have many similarities to the actual collisions on the street. This is important in order to make sure that that the engineers are learning information that they can apply to the actual accidents. You may have also noticed that there were also some differences between the model accidents and actual accidents. Some of these differences were due to constraints of the laboratory that dont completely match real-life. Your teacher will now facilitate a discussion to develop a list of constraints and limitations that the traffic engineers had to consider to complete their laboratory collisions.

CLASS

Discuss the constraints of the laboratory crash tests in Video 6.

1.2 Explore: Modeling the Vehicle Collisions

1.2: Part 3 of 3 Develop a model
Now that you have observed examples of car collision models, you will determine how you can model the vehicle collision happening at the intersection of Park and Main Street in McFarland. You may want to review your Challenge Organizer as you begin to design your model. This will give you the information needed to design a model that recreates your accident scene. As you think about your model, remember that just like any laboratory environment, your classroom will have constraints. What materials and equipment would you need? How might you use those materials to model a tractor-trailer colliding with a still car at the intersection? Think about and discuss how you might model a vehicle
GROUP

collision like those occurring at Park and Main. Identify two constraints in your classroom laboratory that may affect how you design your model.

1.8 Reflect & Connect: Evaluate Solution to the Challenge