Car-Crash Physics: video worksheets, differentiated.

This fascinating and spectacular analysis of crash-test engineering makes a great standalone lesson. Meet the engineers, including Becky Mueller – a very positive role-model for girls looking at STEM careers. How engineers “hack” physics to promote safety during crashes, and look at the future of crash prevention with environment-sensing cars. Including: the scale of the problem (US), progress over the last 20 years. The importance of time in crashes, explained by classic equations. Newton’s First and Second Laws, and how they affect crashes; F = ma. Crumple zones – modern vs. older cars. Acceleration of crash and recoil measured and compared; frame rails for head-on collisions; other parts re-engineered for other kinds of impacts. Seatbelts and airbags and how they work. The** dummy-head cannon**. A brief history of crash-testing. Standardisation of tests. Preparation of cars. Crash test dummies. Crash prevention by environment sensing. Pedestrian tests. Subaru’s EyeSight system; single-camera systems; LiDAR, spinning mirror 360-degree LiDAR; ultrasonic sensors.

Find the film by searching YouTube’s Be Smart channel for “The Incredible Engineering That Helps You Survive Car Crashes”. My link omits a supporter’s message at the end, the film will stop straight after my sheet’s final question if you use my embedded link.

17 questions for the 37-min film (not inc. the omitted message). Differentiated! Both versions look very similar, but “B” version has subtle clues. Questions right up to the end (of my embedded link), no slack time! Excellent subtitles, typed in by a human, not auto-generated nonsense. Answer sheet. Very easy to mark. .doc & .pdf for all files. Link to film on all sheets.

See also KS3 Physics x10! Scientific Eye. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12257603