Driving SCIENCE STEM Activity 18 Collecting Prototype Data

Safety Features Compare and contrast the following terms:

Testing the Car Does 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 cm Length: < 16.5 cm Mass without the egg: > 30 grams Record the dimensions of your prototype in your notebook. PrototypeWith Egg Width Length Mass

Collecting Data Use 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 crossing the 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 Velocity Since the ramp is a straight line speed and velocity can be used interchangeably. Average velocity = total distance traveled (cm) ÷ time of travel (s). cm/s Determine the Estimated Momentum Estimated 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 PDI 2 partners who sponsored the development of this activity and provided professional development support: American Honda Foundation DuPont CU-ICAR Safety-Kleen, EcoPower Fluor 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).