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Down Hill Crash and slide investigations

Focus Questions

Procedure

The K'Nex® DownHill Thrill layout was used (pictures in album below). The end of one of the plastic bales was cut off so that washers could be put inside. The bale was placed at the of the first dip. The first runs pushed the bale up the jump and across the tile floor. Later runs didn't.

Learners who participated were a mixed age group from 10-12 years old.

Sample graph & data

Graph of crash and up hill slide

See additional data and graphs

 

Photo album

Set up of down hill system

Set up of down hill system

Underside and side view of down hill system

Underside and side view of down hill system

 

Set up with bale at bottom where tracks meet

Set up with bale at bottom where tracks meet

Bottom of ramp with bale and car

bottom of ramp with car and bale

Action!

bottom of ramp with car

 

Three sets of data and graphs

Set 1 Chart and Graph of Down Hill Crash

Car rolls down ramp and crashes into the bale with different mass (number of washers).

Bale slides on ceramic tile.

Number of washers in bale
Distance bale slid on tile
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Trial 1 66 41 32 25 28 24 31 20 14 15 13      
Trial 2 72 79 56 45 30 35 30 78 21 15 13 65 7 17
Trial 3 100 80 74 33 42 44 41 25 17 15 19 9 9 8
Mean 79 67 54 34 33 34 34 41 17 15 15 37 8 13

 

Graph of crash and slide on tile

 

Set 2 Chart and Graph of Down Hill Crash

Car rolls down ramp and crashes into the bale with different mass (number of washers).

Bale slides up jump ramp - Layne 

Number of washers 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Trial 1 51 36 10 7 6 4 1 3 2 1 2 1 1
Trial 2 65 41 8 7 5 5 2 3 2 2 3 2 2
Trial 3 56 42 9 6 6 5 3 3 2 2 4 3 3
Mean 57 40 9 6.7 5.7 4.7 2 3 2 1.7 3 2 2

 

Graph of Down hill crash and up hill slide

 

Set 3 Chart and Graph of Down Hill Crash

Car rolls down ramp and crashes into the bale with different mass (number of washers).

Bale slides on carpet. 

Number of washers in bale
Distance Bale Slid in inches
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Trial 1 49 23 11 8 7 5 4.5 4.3 4.5 4 3.5 4.5

 

Graph of down hill crash and slide on Carpet - Alexa and Kalie

 

 

Dr. Robert Sweetland's notes
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