Question

course activity: designing a car bumper
part a
follow these steps to build and test the setup:

1. securely glue or tape the piece of cardboard onto the box.
2. make lengthwise guides to keep the ball on the ramp. connect three straws end to end. to connect them, squeeze the end of one straw and insert it into the end of another straw. tape the guide along one side of the ramp. make a second guide using three more straws. tape it along the other side of the ramp. the space between the guides should be a little wider than the width of the ball.
3. set up the ramp. the top of the ramp should be 12 inches off the floor. place the box (vehicle 1) at the base of the ramp—the box should be touching the end of the ramp. the side with the added cardboard piece should face the ramp. orient the box so its wider than it is high.
4. let the ball roll down the ramp and hit the box. the box should fall over and move across the floor.

the amount of force in this collision can be measured indirectly. simply measure the distance the box moved after the ball hit it. what procedure can you use to measure the distance?

Explanation:

Step1: Prepare a measuring tool

Use a measuring tape or a ruler.

Step2: Mark the starting - point

Mark the position of the box before the ball hits it.

Step3: Mark the ending - point

After the box moves, mark the final position of the box.

Step4: Measure the distance

Place the zero - end of the measuring tape or ruler at the starting - point and extend it to the ending - point. Read the measurement value.

Answer:

Use a measuring tape or ruler to mark the starting and ending positions of the box and then measure the distance between them.