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CRASH!
The Science of Collisions
The CRASH! activities are broken into subject areas; each has the lab materials, computer software, visual aids, etc. for all the activities
Science | Biology | Physics | Math
Science
- Examining Lamps for ON/OFF - Students determine whether each lamp was ON or OFF at the time of impact, based on materials properties and Newton's Laws
- Investigating a MV Homicide Case - Students question witnesses, collect physical evidence from the crash scene, and take photographs to document the evidence
- Was It Safe to Cross? - Students measure pedestrian walking speeds, and determine a traffic condition that is safe for crossing
- Driver Perception-Reaction Time - Measurements of perception-reaction time lead to an anlysis of safe following distance, effects of impairment, etc
- Distractions Can Be Deadly! - Students apply the equations of motion to analyze distance traveled while distracted, danger zone in front of a moving car, etc.
- Skateboards and Cars Don't Mix - Study of perception-reaction time in a common situation, and the ability of a driver to avoid a sudden emergency.
- People Can't Fly - How energy and forces cause injuries to unbelted occupants
- Vehicle Kinematics - Newton's First and Third Laws applied to injuries in car crashes
- Does Speeding Really Save Time? - Analysis of common travel patterns and the difference in time at speeds above the posted safe speed
- Materials:
- Investigator CD
- Steel tape measures (2)
- Digital stopwatches (8)
- 100-ft. fiberglass tape
- Road templates (8)
- Model cars (16)
- Measuring scales (24)
- Student chronoscopes (24)
- Forensic lamps photos
- Exemplar lamp
- Teacher's Manual
- Teacher's Notes
- Student worksheet master copies
- Resources CD
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Biology
- Alcohol and Driver Performance - Fundamentals of toxicology of alcohol, including absorption and elimination and the BAC v. time curve
- Using the BACSim Software - Computer simulation of the effects of drinking on driver performance
- Using the Widmark Equation - Students determine the level of impairment for various drinking patterns, and the differing effects of alcohol on males and females
- Observing Impairment in Driving Tests - Effects of impairment observed in videotaped driver performance tests
- “I Only Had Two Beers!” - Students research the ETOH content of various drinks
- Under the Limit, But Seriously Impaired - Effects of low BAC (under .08) on driving performance
- The Intoxilyzer as Proof of Impairment - Police officer demonstrates the use of a breath test instrument, and the legal implications of the test
- You Can't Afford a DWI! - Students tabulate the various hidden costs of a DWI arrest
- The “cough medicine” defense - Students apply the Widmark equation to calculate the impairment caused by drinking cough medicine
- It's All in the Blood - Converting hospital blood test results to whole blood equivalents for forensic applications
- Chemistry Identifies a Hit-and-run Driver - Use of simple fuming techniques to develop fingerprints
- Materials:
- BACSim CD (8)
- 100-ft. fiberglass tape
- Digital stopwatches (8)
- Impaired Driver Tests DVD
- Teacher's Manual
- Teacher's Notes
- Autopsy report: master copy (on Resources CD)
- Student worksheet master copies
- Resources CD
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Physics
- Measuring Friction with a Police Drag Sled - Students measure road friction and apply it to stopping distance, speed estimates, etc.
- Projectile Motion in Accident Reconstruction - Examples of pedestrian collision, vaulting from the roadway, etc. that can be analyzed using projectile motion equations
- Weighing a Car with a Bath Scale - Application of torques to a hands-on problem
- Reconstructing a Murder by Automobile - Students apply physics to reconstruct speed
- Reconstructing a Motorcycle-Vehicle Collision - Applying energy conservation to determine vehicle speed
- Linear Momentum in Accident Reconstruction - Reconstruction of speed using linear momentum
- Vehicle and Occupant Kinematics - Newton's First and Third Laws applied to injuries in car crashes
- How Do Crumple Zones Save Lives? - Newton's Second Law applied to seat belt use and injury prevention
- Newton's Laws in Court -Sargent v. Smith - Using an actual police report to reconstruct a crash
- Newton's Laws in Court - Sullivan v. Mitton - Investigation of a collision in anticipation of a trial
- Determining Whether a Vehicle Ran a Stop Sign - Students measure vehicle acceleration into an intersection to determine whether a driver is negligent
- Newton Would Have Worn a Seat Belt - Application of Newton's Laws to seat belt use
- Linear Momentum Takes the Witness Stand - Students look at the uncertainty of a momentum calculation in the context of proof at trial
- Projectile Motion - Impact Speed in a Fatal Crash - Students find the speed of a motorcycle impact form the flight of the operator's body
- Materials:
- Digital stopwatches (8)
- 100-ft. fiberglass tape
- Steel tape measure
- Road templates (8)
- Model cars (16)
- FL v. Sherman animation DVD
- Crash Clips DVD
- Teacher's Instructional DVD
- Teacher's Manual
- Teacher's Notes
- Physics of Automobile Crashes
- Police reports: master copies (on Resources CD)
- Student worksheet master copies
- Resources CD
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Math
- Parametric Equations and Tractor Trailer Speed - Algebraic manipulation of equations to produce a working equation for police investigators
- Quadratic Equations in Accident Reconstruction - Quadratic equation applied to pedestrian motion, throw of debris in a collision, etc.
- Was It Safe to Cross? - Students measure pedestrian walking speeds, and determine a traffic condition that is safe for crossing
- Alcohol and Driver Performance - Application of the Widmark equation
- Analyzing the BACSim Software - Computer simulation of impaired driving, and the algorithm for the software
- AFIS Fingerprint Mapping - Use of coordinate pairs to match fingerprints to a suspected operator
- Calculations Solve a Murder - Math analysis develops the theory of negligence in a motor vehicle homicide case
- Quadratic Equations and Insurance Fraud - Students analyze vehicle damage and speed in a fraudulent insurance claim
- Materials:
- BACSim CD (8)
- 100-ft. fiberglass tape
- Digital stopwatches (8)
- Measuring scales (24)
- Inclinometers (8)
- Teacher's Manual
- Teacher's Notes
- Police report: master copy (on Resources CD)
- Student worksheet master copies
- Resources CD
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Plus
These activities from included text, Physics of Automobile Crashes
(P=physics M=mathematics PS=physical science)
- Measuring the Headlight Pattern of an Automobile (P, M, PS)
- Dispersion Pattern of a Traffic Hazard Lamp (P, M)
- Mathematical Model of Road Friction (P, M, PS)
- Measuring the Rolling Friction of a Bicycle or Car (P, PS)
- Determining the Reaction Zone for a Moving Automobile (P, PS)
- Interpreting Driver Reaction Time Statistics (M)
- Calculating Impact Forces on Vehicles and Occupants (P)
- Crush Damage from Utility Pole Impacts (P)
- Measuring Vehicle Accelerations (P, PS)
- Interpreting Motorcycle Test Results (P)
- Analysis of an Intersection Crash (P)
- Documenting Evidence at a Crash Scene (P, PS)
- Making Scale Drawings of Crash Scenes (P, PS)
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