Name(s)______________________

__ Crash Test

You have been hired by a consulting firm that works with car companies as their head safety engineer. Your job is to analyze car crash performance and safety features to make recommendations for safer cars. Since you are an ******** graduate, the company knows that youre smart and expects you to back up your recommendations with your physics knowledge of motion, forces, momentum, impulse, and collisions. Part 1- Research 1. Choose two cars and research the following information for each. Fill out the following chart with information about the cars you choose. Brand Car #1 Model Year Mass Maximum Speed

Car #2

2. Go to the car companys website and find relevant safety features for each car. List the safety features below.

3. For your calculations, you will need your mass in kilograms and your maximum speed in meters per second. Use the internet to convert these values into their appropriate units.

4. If these two cars were to get into a head-on crash, what do you predict would happen? Which car would fare better? Why?

Part 2- Calculations Complete the following problems using information about your chosen cars and the diagram below.

Car 1

Car 2

1. Car 1 is travelling at its 25 m/s and car 2 is stationary. The cars collide in a perfectly inelastic collision. a. Calculate the final velocity of the cars.

2. Both cars are traveling at their maximum speeds. The cars collide in a perfectly inelastic collision. a. Predict which way the cars will be moving after the collision. Explain your reasoning.

b. Calculate the final velocity of the cars.

c. Was your prediction about which way the cars were travelling after the collision correct? Why or why not?

3. Both cars are traveling at their maximum speeds. The cars collide in a perfectly elastic collision. Car 2 has a final velocity of 30 m/s in the opposite direction that it was moving. a. Calculate the final velocity of car 1.

b. Calculate the change in momentum for each car.

c. Assuming the crash took place over 1.5 s, calculate the force that was applied to each car during the crash.

Part 3- Analysis 1. For car 1, list two safety features that the car has and explain the purpose that they serve. You must explain using physics terminology.

2. For car 2, list two safety features that the car has and explain the purpose that they serve. You must explain using physics terminology.

3. Provide some safety recommendations for the company that makes car 1. You must suggest at least two ideas to improve their car. Make sure to back up your recommendations with your physics knowledge and terminology.

4. Provide some safety recommendations for the company that makes car 2. You must suggest at least two ideas to improve their car. Make sure to back up your recommendations with your physics knowledge and terminology.