Collisions and Momentum | New Visions for Public Schools
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Physics Unit 3

Collisions and Momentum

OpenSciEd Physics Adapted by New Visions for NYSSLS

7 weeks

Unit Overview

What can we do to make driving safer for everyone?

This unit uses recent increases in traffic collisions and fatalities to introduce momentum and Newton’s second law. Students investigate relationships among mass, velocity, force, and acceleration, and apply their learning to design solutions that reduce injury in collisions.

Performance Expectations:

HS-PS2-1, HS-PS2-2, HS-PS2-3, HS-ETS1-3

Coming Soon

Coming Soon!

We are putting the finishing touches on this unit! Fully aligned adapted materials—crafted specifically for NYCPS and NY State standards—will be ready in mid-September. Make sure you’ve registered for an account, and we’ll email you when the links are live.

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Lesson Set 1:

What factors can make driving more risky?

Lesson 1:

Why is driving safer today than it was ten years ago, even though the number of vehicle collisions has gone up?

Lesson 2:

How does being distracted affect whether you will avoid a collision?

Lesson 3:

How does speed affect whether you will avoid collision?

Lesson 4:

What affects the amount of time it takes a vehicle to stop after the driver presses the brakes?

Lesson 5:

Can we use mathematical models to explain differences in stopping in wet conditions?

Lesson 6:

Do our motion relationships help predict any of the interactions or outcomes in a collision?

Lesson: 7

Can our models be used to predict the motion of real-world vehicles in a collision?

Lesson Set 2:

How are vehicles designed to keep people safe?

Lesson 8:

What interactions happen during a vehicle collision, and when they do happen?

Lesson 9:

How do safety features affect the forces over time on a person during a collision?

Lesson 10:

How are the bodies of cars designed to make collisions safer?

Lesson 11:

How do the rigidity and length of the crumple zone influence the safety of the occupants during a collision?

Lesson 12:

How can we use our models from across the unit to explain how vehicle systems can be designed to increase safety?

Lesson Set 3:

How can we make design decisions that will make driving safer for everyone?

Lesson 13:

How can we use our science ideas and societal wants and needs to evaluate arguments around design solutions?

Lesson 14:

What can we do to make driving safer for everyone in our community?

Lesson 15:

How can we use physics and engineering ideas to make decisions that will make driving safer for everyone?