Good Science Victorian Curriculum Year 7

CHAPTER 8: FORCES
Figure 8.10 The front and back
sections of modern cars act as
crumple zones if there is a collision.
Crumple zone
INVESTIGATION 8.8
Crash cushions
KEY SKILL
Drawing conclusions
consistent with
evidence
Go to page 180
3
Airbags absorb impact for individual
car passengers
Almost all modern cars have airbags built into surfaces. Airbags work
in a similar way to crumple zones, but instead of providing overall
protection for people inside the vehicle, they protect the individual
passengers in particular ways.
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2
3
The bag inflates
upon collision.
The passenger keeps
moving forward until
they contact the airbag.
The airbag slows the
passenger’s movement
and begins to deflate
upon contact.
CHECKPOINT 8.8
1 Other than grip or traction,
what else does a shoe’s sole
provide to the wearer?
2 Why do cars need specially
designed safety features for
people?
3 How do the sole of a shoe and
the crumple zones and airbags
of a car all behave in response
to forces?
4 Why are straps on a large
backpack often several
centimetres wide and padded?
5 Give an example of a safety
feature that deforms to reduce
the impact of a force that
hasn’t already been mentioned
on this page.
6 Explain why a collision
involving a cyclist or
motorcyclist can be more
hazardous to the riders,
compared to a collision
with only cars involved.
CHALLENGE
4
The passenger slows to a
stop, but takes longer to do
so because of the airbag.
This means they endure a
force that is less than if there
was no airbag.
7 Design your own wearable
safety equipment for cyclists,
highlighting its key safety
features and how it would
increase the safety of a rider
during a collision.
SUCCESS CRITERIA
How do airbags reduce the forces of a collision on people
in a car?
I can describe some
everyday examples of
technology that reduce
the impact of forces.
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