Science: Forensics Case 6 - Measuring Momentum: Using distance moved after impact to estimate velocity

by Texas Instruments

Overview

This activity introduces the concept of momentum as it applies to vehicle collisions. Students accurately gather data of collision of a vehicle with a stationary object, and establish a relationship between the distance an object moves after a collision with a vehicle and the momentum of the vehicle.

Key Steps

To gather data on momentum of moving objects, students use a velocity-time graph made with a CBR2 to find the velocity of a toy car rolling down a ramp at the time it collides with a stationary book.
To change the velocity of the car, it is released at different points on the ramp. Then students create data that shows the relationship of the momentum of the car with the distance that the book moves by calculating the linear regression.

Related Activities

Murder in the First Degree - The Death of Mr. Spud
Forensics Case 2 - Bouncing Back: Using ground-penetrating radar to locate buried objects
Forensics Case 3 - Name That Tune: Matching musical tones through waveform analysis
Forensics Case 4 - Flipping Coins: Density as a characteristic property
Forensics Case 5 - The Ink Is Still Wet: Using colorimetry to identify an unknown ink
Forensics Case 7 - Drug Tests: Identifying an unknown chemical
Forensics Case 8 - No Dumping: Using soil characteristics to link suspects to a crime scene
Forensics Case 9 - Killer Cup of Coffee: Using colorimetry to determine concentration of a poison
Forensics Case 10 - Dropped at the Scene: Blood spatter analysis
Forensics Case 11 - Ashes to Ashes: Using evaporation rate to identify an unknown liquid
Forensics Case 12 - Hit and Run: Using information from an event data recorder to reconstruct an ac
Forensics Case 13 - Life in the Fast Lane: Using skid marks to determine vehicle speed
Forensics Case 14—Hot Air, Cold Body: Using Newton's Law of Cooling to Determine Time of Death

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Science: Forensics Case 6 - Measuring Momentum: Using distance moved after impact to estimate velocity

Overview

Key Steps

Murder in the First Degree - The Death of Mr. Spud

Forensics Case 2 - Bouncing Back: Using ground-penetrating radar to locate buried objects

Forensics Case 3 - Name That Tune: Matching musical tones through waveform analysis

Forensics Case 4 - Flipping Coins: Density as a characteristic property

Forensics Case 5 - The Ink Is Still Wet: Using colorimetry to identify an unknown ink

Forensics Case 7 - Drug Tests: Identifying an unknown chemical

Forensics Case 8 - No Dumping: Using soil characteristics to link suspects to a crime scene

Forensics Case 9 - Killer Cup of Coffee: Using colorimetry to determine concentration of a poison

Forensics Case 10 - Dropped at the Scene: Blood spatter analysis

Forensics Case 11 - Ashes to Ashes: Using evaporation rate to identify an unknown liquid

Forensics Case 12 - Hit and Run: Using information from an event data recorder to reconstruct an ac

Forensics Case 13 - Life in the Fast Lane: Using skid marks to determine vehicle speed

Forensics Case 14—Hot Air, Cold Body: Using Newton's Law of Cooling to Determine Time of Death

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