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Course: High school physics - NGSS > Unit 1
Lesson 4: Activity: How do engineers design rescue cushions to save lives?Activity: how do engineers design safety cushions to save lives?
Make science come alive in your classroom with this free hands-on investigative activity aligned to high school NGSS standards.
Activity: how do engineers design safety cushions to save lives?
Emergency responders can utilize inflatable rescue cushions to protect people who must jump from significant heights. What physics and engineering principles are used to design these safety devices? How do they prevent injuries?
In this activity, students apply the concepts of force and impulse, along with the engineering design process, to design a “rescue pad” for a dropped egg. Then, they expand on the same concepts to explain how engineers design rescue cushions for people.
Overview
This activity is designed to be completed in three 45-minute class periods, with additional time required for creative follow-up projects. The activity consists of the following parts:
- Setting the stage—Students review fundamental concepts related momentum, impulse, force, and stopping time. (20 minutes)
- Define the problem and plan—Students are introduced to the problem: designing a rescue pad for an egg. Students discuss the constraints they'll need to consider, including the limited materials available for the rescue pad. Then, students work in groups to plan and justify their designs using the concepts of impulse, force, and stopping time. (25 minutes)
- Build—Students construct their rescue pads. (45 minutes)
- Test and improve—Students test their rescue pads with an egg. They use the final condition of the egg, along with a slow-motion video recording, to evaluate their their designs and identify areas for improvement. After making improvements, students test their rescue pads again. (25 minutes)
- Follow-up questions—Students reflect on their design process. They build on the concepts and processes they used to explain how engineers design safety cushions for people. (20 minutes)
- Let's get creative!—In this optional extension, students conduct further testing to identify the limits of their rescue pad designs. They use their results to create a user manual for their rescue pads. (45 minutes)
- Keep creating!—Students can choose from additional project ideas. Each project encourages students to combine scientific knowledge with creativity to produce something new.
Download the worksheets and get started today!
You can print out this activity or upload it to a digital classroom.
- Student activity guide (13 page worksheet)
- Teacher guide (step-by-step instructions)
NGSS performance expectation
HS-PS2-3. Apply scientific and engineering ideas to design, evaluate, and refine a device that minimizes the force on a macroscopic object during a collision.
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Hey guys! Could someone further explain this topic of 'Safety Cushions' please, preferebly the types of safety cushions and what they include. This topic sparks my interest as I want to learn more about it!(3 votes)
Sure!
"Safety cushions" typically refer to safety measures or systems designed to lessen the impact or severity of accidents, collisions, or falls. These cushions can take various forms depending on the context but generally aim to protect individuals, vehicles, or equipment from injury or damage.
In automotive safety, for example, safety cushions may include airbags, seat belts, crumple zones, and other features designed to minimize the impact forces experienced by occupants during a crash.
Similarly, in sports or recreational activities, safety cushions can include protective gear such as helmets, knee pads, and padding to reduce the risk of injury from falls or collisions.
In industrial settings, safety cushions may involve engineering controls, such as guardrails, barriers, or safety nets, to prevent falls or contain hazards.
Overall, safety cushions play a critical role in safeguarding individuals and minimizing the consequences of accidents or emergencies in various environments.(4 votes)