ASPIRE

Momentum Student Overview
Life in the Fast Lane

Have you ever experienced traffic on an Interstate?

If you have, congratulations on your survival!

If you haven't, you will have to safely rely on vicarious experiences through the movies or television.

We are going to witness what happens when a fast small car pulls in front of a faster moving large truck.

  • If you can force yourself to watch this more than once, do so and watch for detail.

  • How did the truck's motion change after impact?

  • How did the car's motion change after impact?

  • How would you explain these changes in motion?

  • Does your partner agree with you? Could there be more than one way to explain what happened?

  • Do you think the car would still look this good after impact? You could probably think of a variety of more interesting things that this car could do besides scooting on down the road.

  • What would happen if the car had entered traffic going the opposite direction? (Don't get carried away!)

In the following activities, we will be investigating the motion of vehicles.

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