Question

design criteria are the goals the design must achieve. in this case, the bumper must reduce the force exerted in a collision using the setup. the bumper should not add a lot of mass to the car. to lower the mass, the bumper must contain mainly empty space. to better compare bumpers, each prototype must be the same size: 6 inches long, 2 inches high, and 2 inches deep. the constraint for the bumper design is that you must use materials you have on hand. using your knowledge about collisions and newtons laws, brainstorm ideas about two different bumpers that will meet the criteria and the constraint. draw your two best ideas here. describe your ideas using text boxes.

Explanation:

1. Idea 1: Honey - comb structure bumper

• A honey - comb structure is made up of many small cells. It has a large amount of empty space, which helps in keeping the mass low. When a collision occurs, the cells can collapse in a controlled manner, absorbing the impact force over a longer time interval. According to Newton's second law ($F = \frac{\Delta p}{\Delta t}$), increasing the time of impact $\Delta t$ reduces the force $F$. Since it is a regular structure, it can be made to the required dimensions of 6 inches long, 2 inches high, and 2 inches deep.

1. Idea 2: Inflatable - like bumper

• This bumper could be made of a thin, durable material (assuming such materials are on - hand). When not in a collision, it can be deflated to a small size and then inflated to the required dimensions. During a collision, the air inside can compress, spreading out the impact force over time. The air also provides a large amount of empty space, reducing the overall mass of the bumper.

Answer:

1. Honey - comb structure bumper: A structure with small cells that can collapse during a collision to absorb force and has low mass due to empty space.
2. Inflatable - like bumper: Made of thin durable material, inflatable to the required size, with air that compresses during a collision to reduce force and has low mass.