Physics Noely C., Brandon M.

Mr. Liu Aiden D., Manuel S.

Car Crash PBL

Objective

The intention for this project was to create and build a car that would protect the

“Passenger” or the egg from breaking. And to determine which car design was cost effective and

the egg in full shape or minor cracks.

Background

In preparation of the construction of our car, we had to learn some concepts. In the PBL Entry

Document, it required for us to know how to calculate the ​impulse​, ​momentum​, ​collision​ ​time​,

pressure​, ​force​, and the concepts. With this, after several lectures, we learned that the equation
F
to find the pressure is to divide force by the surface area or written as, P = SA
. The purpose of

this equation is to calculate the amount of pressure that the egg can take before breaking. The

second equation is set up as, m Δ v = F t , where if you multiply m Δ v , then it is the ​change

in​ ​momentum​. As for ​Force​ and ​Collision​ both has an ​inverse​ ​relationship​. Meaning that if

the ​force​ increasing, the ​Collision​ ​Time​ decreases. If ​Collision Time​ increases, the ​Force

decreases.

Design

First each group members had to sketch an outline of how the

car was going to be built. Afterwards, the group had to

deliberate which vehicle idea we were going to use to

construct our car. Hence, the group members agreed to proceed with Noely’s outline. However,

we were going to implement several

modifications from everyone’s contribution of ideas. Given this, the materials that we are going

to use in order to construct our vehicle are three rubber bands, 19 popsicle sticks, 12 packing

peanuts, 4 cotton balls, and hot glue guns with glue sticks.

The first feature of our car is the use of cotton

balls and packing peanuts hot glued in the

front bumper of the vehicle. The reason why

this feature is essential for the egg was

because the flexibility of the cotton increases

the collision time which would then decrease

the force

implemented on the car.

Our second feature that was used was the cotton seats along

with the intersecting rubber bands. The seat is used to

protect the egg because the pressure that the egg experiences

when the car crashes is spreaded throughout the egg’s

surface area.

The third and final feature is the “seatbelts” that go over the

eggs to not only secure it, but to extend the collision time. The
extended collision time lets the force dissipate more making the overall impact much less than it

appears. In addition, the rubber bands does not cause the eggs to suddenly stop, but continue

moving with the car.

Important Information

Prior to testing the car in the practice run and final run, we had to take the predicted collision

time and velocity into account. In order to protect the egg in the first practice drop, we had to

weigh the mass of the car with the egg, the height of the drop in feet and the amount of surface

area that was being covered . The mass of the car was 214 grams along with the egg inside it’s

seat and the drop in feet was 5 ft or 1.6 meters. In addition, the calculated surface area that was

going to be covered was 36 cm 2 . WIth this information, we then had to input it onto a google

sheet. Moreover, the calculated velocity of the car as it rolls down the 5 feet drop was 5.55. As

for the collision time needed to prevent the egg to break was 0.00167 seconds. Afterwards, for

the final drop, the mass remained the same which was 214 grams and the drop in feet of the ramp

increased to 17 feet. With this, we also implemented this information onto a google sheet and the

estimated collision time that needed was 0.00303 seconds and the velocity of the car as it hits

was 10.07 mps 2 .

Initial Testing Results & Changes:

When the first initial test was conducted, the collision time in total was 0.0979 seconds. Yet the

calculated collision time that was predicted to

protect the egg was 0.001668388552 seconds.

Therefore, our collision time was overestimated than it had to be due to the use of the cottons at

the front. The results was that the egg did not break due to the packing peanuts surrounding the

egg to distribute the pressure and the cotton placed on the front bumper to increase collision

time. With this test, we decided to just tape the front bumper to reposition the angle since

anything below the wheels pays a fee.

Final Testing Results:

In the final testing results, the collision time that was calculated was ___. Whereas the predicted

collision time needed to protect the egg was 0.00303. Through this, the time was ___. Moreover,

Competition Results:

In conclusion, out of the entire class or seven groups, none survived. Therefore, the way the

winners were chosen was by the appearance of the egg’s shape. In the end, our group landed on

sixth place based on the amount of cracks the egg took in the fall.