Paper Car Crash Momentum Project.

Mark Kamel

The purpose of the Paper Car Crash Project is to build a car using only two sheets of paper to

carry an egg down an inclined track ramp and protect it during a crash with a concrete wall from

either being injured (cracked shell) or killed (broken shell) as a result of the collision and build a

car with the most significant momentum. The car should have 4 wheels, axles, and axle housing

for the construction of the car. The width of the car should be less than or equal to 7.5

centimeters (including the axles and wheels), the maximum car length should be less than or

equal to 16.5 centimeters, and the minimum car mass should be equal to or greater than 40

grams.

The car should be built of only two sheets of paper and an unlimited amount of glue for the car’s

frame and body, 4 wheels, and two axles.

We tried to make it as safe as possible to prevent the egg from getting cracked/broken. First, we

made sure that the width of the car is less than or equal to 7.5 cm and the length of the car is less

than or equal to 16.5 cm. Second, We folded the sides of the paper to make a square and we

doubled the layers of the front of the car so that it would be hard to affect the egg when it hit the

wall. After we glued the car to make it look like a square we then used the rest of the paper to

make a crumble zone, so we folded the paper to make it scratch and compared then we connected

it with the front of the car.

We faced two problems, the first problem was that the car wasn’t balanced which made the car

want to flip because the front had much more weight than the back. The second problem was that

the wheels of the car would touch the sides of the car which made the car slow down/stop. To
solve the first problem, we added glue on the back of the car so the car would be balanced. And

to solve the second problem we had to make the width of the car shorter.

mass of
Width of Length of mass of vehicle w/egg
Trials # Distance (cm) Time (s) vehicle (cm) vehicle(cm) vehicle (g) (g)
Trial 1 215.5 1.9 7.5 12.6 50.22 110.22
Trial 2 215.5 1.3 7.5 12.6 50.22 110.22
Trial 3 215.5 1.26 7.5 12.6 50.22 110.22

Trials # Survived? (Yes Angle

 or No) (degrees)
Trial 1 Yes 21.5
Trial 2 Yes 23.5
Trial 3 No 25.5

d (m)
v¿
t(s)

P=m(kg)×v(m/ s)

d=215.5 cm÷ 100 cm× 1 m=2.115m

m=110.22 g ÷ 0.001 g × 1 kg=50.28 kg

Trial 1:

2.115 m
v= =1.134210526m/s
1.9 s

p=50.276 kg ×1.134210526 m/ s =0.2500253684kg × m/s

Trial 2:

2.115 m
v= =1.657692308 m/s
1.3 s

p=50.276 kg ×1.657692308 m/s=0.3654216923 kg ×m/ s

Trial 3:

2.155 m
v= =1.78968254 m/s
1.26 s

p=50.276 kg ×1.78968254 m/ s = 0.394517619 kg × m/s

The vehicle didn’t meet my expectations. I used this equation F¿∨¿¿ mg ×sin θ to

determine the net force that is being done on the vehicle on an inclined plane. For example, the
first trial was F ¿∨¿¿ 0.11022× 9.8 sin(21.5)=0.396 N . To check if the vehicle meets with my

1 2 2 2Δ
expectation, I used this equation F=ma → Δ x = a t →2 Δ x=a t → a= 2
2 t

For example, the first trial acceleration is a= 2(2.155 m) ; therefore,

¿¿
2
F=(0.11022kg)(1.194 m/s )=0.132 N . My vehicle result for the force that is being done on the

vehicle is 0.03% off from the expected results.

Comparing my vehicle with Donevan’s vehicle made me realize the strengths and weaknesses of

each design. Donevan’s vehicle strengths are the crumple zone, a specific circle designed

specifically for the egg. Donovan’s vehicle's only weakness is the strength of the sides of the

vehicle. My vehicle strengths are the sides of the vehicle are very strong, front and sides dafty

cages. My vehicle weaknesses are that the crumple zone wasn’t long and high enough to protect

the egg from cracking, and the sides of the vehicle weren't high enough to cover/protect the four

sides of the egg.

Angle (degrees) Survived

21.5 Yes
23.5 Yes
25.5 Yes
30 Yes
41.3 yes

Trials # Survived
Trial 1 Yes
Trial 2 Yes
Trial 3 No

The data tables prove how Donvean’s vehicle has a higher chance of surviving.
After testing my car on the inclined track ramp and comparing my car with another vehicle in the

class, I found that we can make many improvements in the design to improve the car’s

performance. First, the crumple zone should have a longer length and height. The crumple zone

that we had didn’t protect the egg from cracking on the third trial because the angle increased.

Second, the sides of the car should have been longer to protect the egg from cracking.’

The vehicle has three important features for crashworthiness. First, the crumple zone,

crumple zone is the most important feature when it comes to car crashes and because of that, we

made sure that we focus on the crumple zone more than anything else. Second, the side safety

cage is simply to protect the egg from getting out of the vehicle, so when it hits the wall it

wouldn’t move. Third, the wheels are very important because they make the vehicle move.

Force affects the time the vehicle takes to reach the full distance, the more force means

that the vehicle will move faster. The more force and time the more the impulse will be, so that is

why when the angle increases the impulse also increases.

Angle
Trials # (degrees) P (kg x m/s)
Trial 1 21.5 0.2500253684
Trial 2 23.5 0.3654216923
Trial 3 25.5 0.394517619

Crumple zones and airbags are really important because they affect the impact of force and time

on the vehicle. The main purpose of crumple zones and airbags is to allow the vehicle to spend

more time so that the force may decrease.