Science Simulations, Technology Simulations, Engineering Simulations, Mathematics Simulations
Lesson 3: How does the front end of a vehicle affect safety?
Many crashes happen in the front end of vehicles. Vehicle makers call this part of the vehicle the crumple or crush zone. What do you think is best at protecting driver safety: a stiff front end or a softer frame that easily collapses? Stiffen up your investigative skills and start this simulation.
Here are some definitions to help you in your investigation.
Stiffness - a measure of the firmness or ability to bend or change
Crush zone - the front end of a vehicle designed to increase driver safety
Variable - something that can change
Deformation - a change in the shape of something
Footwell - the inside of a car down by the driver’s feet
Intrusion - how much the car frame moved into the driver
Acceleration - how quickly or slowly the driver changed speed inside the car
Risk - how likely an injury would happen. 100% means that the injury would occur. 0% means no injury would happen.
Fractures - broken bones
Doing the science
- Start the Car Crash Simulation.
- Select the red car on the right side of the screen.
- Select the “Soft” crush zone stiffness.
- Select the “Short” crush zone length.
- Select the “Crash Center” button at the bottom of the screen.
- Select the “40 MPH” speed, and then select the “Crash It” button.
- Select the “Analysis Center” button at the bottom of the screen.
- Select the “Measure” button. Select the green round target, then select the next green round target to measure the crush zone deformation. Record this information in Table 1.
- Repeat, measuring the intrusion for the other two targets (yellow and red). Record this information in Table 1.
- Select the “Medical Report” button. Record this information in Table 2.
- Select the “Design Center” button at the bottom of the screen.
- Repeat steps 3–11, except choose the “Medium” frame stiffness.
- Repeat steps 3–11, except choose the “Stiff” frame stiffness.