Amusement Park Physics With a NASA Twist - Space Flight Systems ...

Bumper Cars—Nonattending Students
Ride Measurements
For each collision shown below, circle the appropriate set of arrows to indicate which direction the
cars and riders move immediately after impact. Assume the masses of riders A and B are equal.
1. Head-on collision 2. Rear-end collision
Before impact
Before impact
A
B
A
B
After impact
Cars: A
a.
b.
c.
d. no motion
B
no motion
After impact
Cars: A
a.
b. no motion
c.
d. no motion
no motion
B
no motion
Riders:
a.
b.
c.
d.
A
no motion
B
no motion
Riders:
a.
b.
c.
d.
A
no motion
B
no motion
3. Side-impact collision 4. Car hits wall
Before impact
A
Before impact
After impact
Cars: A
a.
b.
c.
d. no motion
Riders: A
a.
b.
c.
d.
B
B
B
A
After impact
Car:
a.
b.
c.
A
no motion
Rider: A
a.
b.
c. no motion
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Amusement Park Physics With a NASA Twist
EG–2003–03–010–GRC