The following lesson is free to download. This is one of several lessons available to members.

Force of Impact

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  Fish Tail End Cap	Round End Cap	Flat End cap	Solid End Cap

  
  A practical session based on a vehicle colliding head on with a guard rail's fish tail end.
  A fish tail end cap is known to slice through the grill and radiator of a car and to even penetrate the driver's foot area. The other types being of a wider frontal area spread the force over a larger area hence not creating the same penetration - this is an example of Newton's Laws of Energy.
  
  For this practical an incline plane, toy car, plasticine and butter knife are the main equipment needed to complete this study. The pratical is broken up into three parts that can be used for Middle School students or Senior students depending on your needs.
  
  To gain further information on this topic, visit Australia's Centre for Automotive Safety Research based at The University of Adelaide. The centre is used by such organisations as ANCAP to ensure pedestrian safety is considered by new car manufacturers. URL: http://casr.adelaide.edu.au
  The CASR website also has videos available for viewing showing some of the work they do.
  URL: http://casr.adelaide.edu.au/impactlab/
  
  ANCAP's (Australasian New Car Assessment Program) "Crash testing for safety" website also lists "How safe is your next vehicle? Further information of car safety is available from URL: http://www.ancap.com.au/home