Design a Device That Minimizes the Force on an Object During a Collision
In this project, you will design, evaluate, and refine a device that minimizes the force
on an object during a collision. You should apply scientific ideas to develop your
device and try to avoid unanticipated effects. Apply the law of conservation of linear
momentum to the situation in which your device should be used, and compare the
velocities and momenta of objects in the system. Note that the total momentum of a
system can change, but the change is balanced by the momenta of objects outside
the system. In your design, you should specify any criteria and constraints, such as
limiting risk. You should be able to quantify how your design satisfies these criteria
and constraints. You may have to break down complex criteria into simpler ones and
prioritize certain criteria over others.
Background
An object's momentum is based on the mass and velocity of the object. The more
momentum the object has, the harder it is to stop the object or change its direction.
The equation for momentum is p = my, where p is momentum, mis mass, and vis
velocity. When a force is applied to an object, the object's velocity changes.
