Driving SCIENCE STEM Activity 18Collecting Prototype Data

Safety Features

Compare and contrast the following terms:

speed velocity

momentum

Testing the CarDoes your car make it down the ramp?

Make any changes needed to have a successful run.Does your car make it down the ramp with the 60 gram weights? Did the “egg” survive?

Make any changes needed to have a successful run.In your notebook, describe how your car performed on the ramp.

Taking Measurements

Width: < 6.5 cmLength: < 16.5 cmMass without the egg: > 30 grams

Record the dimensions of your prototype in your notebook.

Prototype With Egg

Width

Length

Mass

Collecting DataUse the 60 gram weights in place of the egg.Determine the time it takes your car to roll from the top of the ramp to crossingthe bottom edge of the ramp. Have 3 people time the car (nearest hundredth of a second). Find the average time.

Time (s)

Average

Average Time of Vehicle

Determining Momentum

Determine the Average VelocitySince the ramp is a straight line speed and velocity can be used interchangeably. Average velocity = total distance traveled (cm) ÷ time of travel (s).

cm/sDetermine the Estimated MomentumEstimated momentum = total mass (grams) of vehicle with “egg” × average velocity (cm/s).

g*cm/s

Reflection

What did you find out about your cars as you collected data?What impact do you think your safety features have on momentum?

Thanks to PDI2 partners who sponsored the development of this activity and provided professional development support:

American Honda Foundation

DuPontCU-ICAR

Safety-Kleen, EcoPowerFluor

United States Conference of Mayors

Thanks to race track partners who provided support for teachers:Darlington Raceway, Daytona International Speedway, Dover International Speedway,

Martinsville Speedway, and Richmond International Raceway

Copyright © 2015 Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina (SC).