Crumple Zones_Gizmo - Student Exploration_2026/2027 | Questions & Answers {100%} 100% Verified Q & A

Crumple Zones_Gizmo - Student Exploration_2026/2027 | Questions & Answers {100%} 100% Verified Q & A

2019

Name: Date:

Student Exploration: Crumple Zones

Vocabulary: acceleration, airbag, collision avoidance system, crash test dummy,

crumple zone, force, kinetic energy, Newton’s laws of motion, safety cell, seat belt, work,

work-energy theorem

Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the

Gizmo.)

Two burglars run down an alley at night, trying to escape the

cops. Jack is carrying a rigid metal safe. Jill is carrying an

armful of antique quilts. In the pitch dark, they both collide

headlong into a concrete wall.

1. Who do you think will be hurt more in the collision, and

why?

They would both be hurt the same because they both ran

into the concrete wall with the same amount of force which

 means they would both be injured the same

2019

2. During a car crash, what features of the car might act like either Jack’s safe or Jill’s

quilts?

Jacks safe would act like the front of the car because the front has more protection

and Jills quilts would be like the side of the car because there is less protection

Gizmo Warm-up

When cars were first invented, the safety of passengers

was not a great concern. As vehicles grew larger and

faster, accidents became more deadly. Safety features

went from being a rare luxury to a legal requirement. In

the Crumple Zones Gizmo, you will design cars that will

help a crash test dummy survive a collision.

1. To begin, do not make any changes to the DESIGN tab of the Gizmo. Select the

CRASH TEST tab, and click Play ( ). After the crash, click Slo-mo replay. What

happens?

 It slowly shows what happens at the end of the crash and the effectts

2. Select the RESULTS tab to read about the results of the crash. Do you think a

passenger would have survived this car crash? Explain. No, they wouldve died due to

trauma of the head hittng the steering wheel and to the torso.

2019

Activity A:

Surviving a

crash

Get the Gizmo ready:

ï‚· Click Reset ( ).

ï‚· On the DESIGN tab, check that Sedan is

selected.

Introduction: Modern vehicles contain features designed to keep passengers safe in a

crash. The crumple zone in the front of the car slows the car gradually and increases

stopping time. The safety cell is a rigid cage that prevents passengers from being

crushed. Inside, seat belts and airbags prevent the driver from hitting the windshield,

steering wheel, or dashboard.

Question: How does a crumple zone help protect a passenger?

1. Make a hypothesis: On the DESIGN tab, look at the parameters you can control.

What settings do you think will make the safest car? Set up the Gizmo, and then fill

in below.

Crumple zone length: 120 Crumple zone rigidity: 4000 Safety cell rigidity: 4000

Seat belt present? Yes If present, seat belt stiffness: 100

Air bag present? Yes If present, air bag rigidity: 50

2. Test: On the CRASH TEST tab, check that the Car 1 speed is 16 m/s, or about 35

miles per hour (mph). Click Play. After the crash, select the RESULTS tab.

A. By what percentage did the crumple zone deform? 0.05m Safety cell?

0.05m

B. Did the dummy hit the steering wheel? No

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