Crash Cushion Design Project — Impulse-Momentum — STEM…
Sale price
$5.00
Regular price $4.50Instant digital download -- no physical shipping.
- Instant Digital Download — access your files immediately after purchase
- Created by a Real Physics Teacher — classroom-tested and student-approved
- Lifetime Access & Support — contact us anytime for help
✓
NGSS Aligned
✓
Instant Digital Download
✓
Created by a 7+ Year Physics Teacher
📦 Save with the Momentum Unit Bundle: Get every momentum resource I sell — quizzes, slide decks, labs, crosswords, warmups, the test, and the escape room — bundled for $47.25. Get the Physics Momentum Unit Bundle — NGSS Grades 9-12 →
Which team can build a crash cushion that produces the LOWEST maximum force? Using only paper and tape, student teams design, build, and test crash cushions while applying the impulse-momentum theorem.
The key physics insight: increasing collision time decreases maximum force (J = Ft).
What's Included:
• Design project worksheet with procedure, design rules, data tables, and analysis questions
• Data collection instructions for Vernier GoDirect cart force sensor
• Teacher notes with answer key, equipment list, and competition setup tips
• Print-ready digital resource + editable Word formats
NGSS engineering design aligned. Designed for Grades 9-12 physics. 75-100 minutes (can span 2 periods).
📦 Get the complete Momentum unit
This resource is part of the Momentum Unit Bundle — all lessons, labs, assessments, and review materials for the full unit.
Update your location to see state-specific standards (only available in the US).
NGSS HS-PS2-2
Use mathematical representations to support the claim that the total momentum of a system of objects is conserved when there is no net force on the system. Emphasis is on the quantitative conservation of momentum in interactions and the qualitative meaning of this principle. Assessment is limited to systems of two macroscopic bodies moving in one dimension.
NGSS HS-PS3-1
Create a computational model to calculate the change in the energy of one component in a system when the change in energy of the other component(s) and energy flows in and out of the system are known. Emphasis is on explaining the meaning of mathematical expressions used in the model. Assessment is limited to basic algebraic expressions or computations; to systems of two or three components; and to thermal energy, kinetic energy, and/or the energies in gravitational, magnetic, or electric fields.
NGSS HS-PS2-1
Analyze data to support the claim that Newton’s second law of motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration. Assessment is limited to one-dimensional motion and to macroscopic objects moving at non-relativistic speeds. Examples of data could include tables or graphs of position or velocity as a function of time for objects subject to a net unbalanced force, such as a falling object, an object sliding down a ramp, or a moving object being pulled by a constant force.
NGSS HS-PS4-1
Use mathematical representations to support a claim regarding relationships among the frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves traveling in various media. Examples of data could include electromagnetic radiation traveling in a vacuum and glass, sound waves traveling through air and water, and seismic waves traveling through the earth. Assessment is limited to algebraic relationships and describing those relationships qualitatively.
NGSS HS-PS2-3
Apply scientific and engineering ideas to design, evaluate, and refine a device that minimizes the force on a macroscopic object during a collision. Examples of evaluation and refinement could include determining the success of the device at protecting an object from damage and modifying the design to improve it. Examples of a device could include a football helmet or a parachute. Assessment is limited to qualitative evaluations and/or algebraic manipulations.
NGSS HS-PS2-2
Use mathematical representations to support the claim that the total momentum of a system of objects is conserved when there is no net force on the system. Emphasis is on the quantitative conservation of momentum in interactions and the qualitative meaning of this principle. Assessment is limited to systems of two macroscopic bodies moving in one dimension.
NGSS HS-PS3-1
Create a computational model to calculate the change in the energy of one component in a system when the change in energy of the other component(s) and energy flows in and out of the system are known. Emphasis is on explaining the meaning of mathematical expressions used in the model. Assessment is limited to basic algebraic expressions or computations; to systems of two or three components; and to thermal energy, kinetic energy, and/or the energies in gravitational, magnetic, or electric fields.
NGSS HS-PS2-1
Analyze data to support the claim that Newton’s second law of motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration. Assessment is limited to one-dimensional motion and to macroscopic objects moving at non-relativistic speeds. Examples of data could include tables or graphs of position or velocity as a function of time for objects subject to a net unbalanced force, such as a falling object, an object sliding down a ramp, or a moving object being pulled by a constant force.
NGSS HS-PS4-1
Use mathematical representations to support a claim regarding relationships among the frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves traveling in various media. Examples of data could include electromagnetic radiation traveling in a vacuum and glass, sound waves traveling through air and water, and seismic waves traveling through the earth. Assessment is limited to algebraic relationships and describing those relationships qualitatively.
NGSS HS-PS2-3
Apply scientific and engineering ideas to design, evaluate, and refine a device that minimizes the force on a macroscopic object during a collision. Examples of evaluation and refinement could include determining the success of the device at protecting an object from damage and modifying the design to improve it. Examples of a device could include a football helmet or a parachute. Assessment is limited to qualitative evaluations and/or algebraic manipulations.
Crash Cushion Design Project — Impulse-Momentum — STEM…
Sale price
$5.00
Regular price $4.50Instant digital download -- no physical shipping.
✓
NGSS Aligned
✓
Instant Digital Download
✓
Created by a 7+ Year Physics Teacher
📦 Save with the Momentum Unit Bundle: Get every momentum resource I sell — quizzes, slide decks, labs, crosswords, warmups, the test, and the escape room — bundled for $47.25. Get the Physics Momentum Unit Bundle — NGSS Grades 9-12 →
Which team can build a crash cushion that produces the LOWEST maximum force? Using only paper and tape, student teams design, build, and test crash cushions while applying the impulse-momentum theorem.
The key physics insight: increasing collision time decreases maximum force (J = Ft).
What's Included:
• Design project worksheet with procedure, design rules, data tables, and analysis questions
• Data collection instructions for Vernier GoDirect cart force sensor
• Teacher notes with answer key, equipment list, and competition setup tips
• Print-ready digital resource + editable Word formats
NGSS engineering design aligned. Designed for Grades 9-12 physics. 75-100 minutes (can span 2 periods).
📦 Get the complete Momentum unit
This resource is part of the Momentum Unit Bundle — all lessons, labs, assessments, and review materials for the full unit.
Update your location to see state-specific standards (only available in the US).
NGSS HS-PS2-2
Use mathematical representations to support the claim that the total momentum of a system of objects is conserved when there is no net force on the system. Emphasis is on the quantitative conservation of momentum in interactions and the qualitative meaning of this principle. Assessment is limited to systems of two macroscopic bodies moving in one dimension.
NGSS HS-PS3-1
Create a computational model to calculate the change in the energy of one component in a system when the change in energy of the other component(s) and energy flows in and out of the system are known. Emphasis is on explaining the meaning of mathematical expressions used in the model. Assessment is limited to basic algebraic expressions or computations; to systems of two or three components; and to thermal energy, kinetic energy, and/or the energies in gravitational, magnetic, or electric fields.
NGSS HS-PS2-1
Analyze data to support the claim that Newton’s second law of motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration. Assessment is limited to one-dimensional motion and to macroscopic objects moving at non-relativistic speeds. Examples of data could include tables or graphs of position or velocity as a function of time for objects subject to a net unbalanced force, such as a falling object, an object sliding down a ramp, or a moving object being pulled by a constant force.
NGSS HS-PS4-1
Use mathematical representations to support a claim regarding relationships among the frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves traveling in various media. Examples of data could include electromagnetic radiation traveling in a vacuum and glass, sound waves traveling through air and water, and seismic waves traveling through the earth. Assessment is limited to algebraic relationships and describing those relationships qualitatively.
NGSS HS-PS2-3
Apply scientific and engineering ideas to design, evaluate, and refine a device that minimizes the force on a macroscopic object during a collision. Examples of evaluation and refinement could include determining the success of the device at protecting an object from damage and modifying the design to improve it. Examples of a device could include a football helmet or a parachute. Assessment is limited to qualitative evaluations and/or algebraic manipulations.
NGSS HS-PS2-2
Use mathematical representations to support the claim that the total momentum of a system of objects is conserved when there is no net force on the system. Emphasis is on the quantitative conservation of momentum in interactions and the qualitative meaning of this principle. Assessment is limited to systems of two macroscopic bodies moving in one dimension.
NGSS HS-PS3-1
Create a computational model to calculate the change in the energy of one component in a system when the change in energy of the other component(s) and energy flows in and out of the system are known. Emphasis is on explaining the meaning of mathematical expressions used in the model. Assessment is limited to basic algebraic expressions or computations; to systems of two or three components; and to thermal energy, kinetic energy, and/or the energies in gravitational, magnetic, or electric fields.
NGSS HS-PS2-1
Analyze data to support the claim that Newton’s second law of motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration. Assessment is limited to one-dimensional motion and to macroscopic objects moving at non-relativistic speeds. Examples of data could include tables or graphs of position or velocity as a function of time for objects subject to a net unbalanced force, such as a falling object, an object sliding down a ramp, or a moving object being pulled by a constant force.
NGSS HS-PS4-1
Use mathematical representations to support a claim regarding relationships among the frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves traveling in various media. Examples of data could include electromagnetic radiation traveling in a vacuum and glass, sound waves traveling through air and water, and seismic waves traveling through the earth. Assessment is limited to algebraic relationships and describing those relationships qualitatively.
NGSS HS-PS2-3
Apply scientific and engineering ideas to design, evaluate, and refine a device that minimizes the force on a macroscopic object during a collision. Examples of evaluation and refinement could include determining the success of the device at protecting an object from damage and modifying the design to improve it. Examples of a device could include a football helmet or a parachute. Assessment is limited to qualitative evaluations and/or algebraic manipulations.
Custom Liquid
Gear Up for Class
Rep your love for physics with our premium tees