The following lesson is free of copyright for downloading for educational purposes:
Additional lessons are available to members from our Moodle site or by clicking Lesson Ideas link above.
Flat End Cap made to cushion [ end can slide under force ]
Fish Tail End Cap tend to slice [ non movable end ]
Force of Impact is a physics based practical that highlights the damage that can be received during an accident. Its main thrust is in showing the damage that results in colliding with a sharp object compared to a blunt one.
The practical is broken into three sections:
Part A introduces the user to average speed
Part B compares colliding with a sharp object to that of a flat object
Part C introduces the student to Newton's Laws and calculations based on formulae.
To better understand the mathematical formulae used in calculating impact and other linear motion and force exercises - click here to view or download formulae recommended for Senior Physics Students in the Australian Curriculum.
If you wish to see what "texting while driving" can cause, watch the video produced by the Royal Automobile Association (RAA) - click here to view.
The SA Government in conjunction with MAC and other organisations have created a video illustrating what low level speeding can cause. Low level speeding refers to travel up to 5kph over the speed limit. Click here to view.
Interview with Jeremy Woolley from the Centre for Automotive Safety Research - click here to view
Embrace Life ad from Sussex UK on Wearing a Seat Belt - Click here to view.
For statistics relating to introduction of RBT's, 50Kph Zones, Hoon Legislation etc - click here. SA Fatalities 1970 to 2011 courtesy The Advertiser, Adelaide
For those who wish to extend their knowledge of impact - visit ANCAP's collision website which shows how they rate safety for all vehicles in Australia and New Zealand. Click here to visit ANCAP's webpage.
NASA in their explanation of Work uses formulae needed in some of the calculations referred to in this series of practicals - Click here for formulae explanation.
For an explanation and calculation of a collisional force by NASA, click here.