The Crumple Zone Egg Car Challenge! (force and motion)

Want to engage your students as they learn about force and motion in a unique and truly exciting way? This activity is for you!

We've all seen the egg-drop activity, but this take it to a whole new level and requires students to research safety features that car companies utilize before students design and building their own egg car! Their egg car has to meet certain requirements listed in this file. Eventually, their egg will be tested at high speeds. (Details are in the file.) Will the safety features each team designed save their precious egg cargo?

Topics: Force and Motion, Newton's Laws, Car Safety, How Mass Affects Speed

(I have students research these topics in class before starting this project.)

File Contains

1. Project introduction about car safety.

2. Crumple Zone Diagram (This is the area that crumples up during an accident to help reduce the amount of force passengers experience.)

3. Suggested Materials List

4. Car Specifications

5. Space for Student Diagrams

6. Pictures from Previous Years

7. Teacher Instructions (my suggestions)

This is a favorite activity that students in my school look forward to doing when they get to fifth grade. However, this can be adapted for almost any grade by simply requiring a pre and post lab writing activity for older grades or having more teacher assistance for lower grades. Getting the Pinewood Derby Cars and attaching the wheels is the hardest part of all of this, but if you do it right, it's a one time thing. It's worth the work because students always talk about this activity all year.

Tips:

Make sure students don't include anything sharp or breakable in their designs.

Don't let them build a roof. Their egg cars should be convertibles.

I have plenty of videos for this activity if you'd like to see how I do it every year. I'd be glad to give advice. :)