Two engineers installing solar panels

Car Accidents/Collisions (Newton’s Second Law of Motion)

Grades 9-12

This lesson focuses on two main ideas:

Newton’s Law of Motion is F=ma (Force equal mass times acceleration)
How Newton’s Law of Motion applies to car accidents and collisions

Procedure

INTRODUCTION (15 minutes)

Read the introduction to students and review new vocabulary. Students will watch the “Motorweek” video. After the video, have a discussion around the essential questions and thinking questions aligned to the topic and video.

EXTENSION (15-30 minutes)

Complete extension activities with students, as you see fit.

ASSESSMENT (15 minutes)

Have students apply their newfound knowledge by completing a Summative CER on the lesson using evidence from the video and activities as support.

REFLECTION (10 minutes)

Have students complete a reflection.

Standards

NGSS Performance Expectation

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.

Science and Engineering Practices
Analyzing and Interpreting Data
Analyzing data in 9–12 builds on K–8 and progresses to introducing more detailed statistical analysis, the comparison of data sets for consistency, and the use of models to generate and analyze data.

Analyze data using tools, technologies, and/or models (e.g., computational, mathematical) in order to make valid and reliable scientific claims or determine an optimal design solution.

Connections to Nature of Science

Theories and laws provide explanations in science.
Laws are statements or descriptions of the relationships among observable phenomena

Disciplinary Core Ideas
PS2.A: Forces and Motion
- Newton’s second law accurately predicts changes in the motion of macroscopic objects

Crosscutting Concepts
Cause and Effect
- Empirical evidence is required to differentiate between cause and correlation and make claims about specific causes and effects.

Summative CER

Option 1:

Construct an explanation addressing how Newton’s Second Law of Motion applies to car accidents and collisions. Use evidence and reasoning from the videos and activities to support your explanation.

Option 2:

How can the force of a car striking another car be determined? How can you predict which car in an accident will likely produce more damage? Use evidence and reasoning from the videos and activities to support your explanation.

Reflection Questions

What is the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration?
How does Newton’s Second Law of Motion apply to car accidents and collisions?

Summative CER Rubric

No Response Score Point 0	Not There Yet Score Point 0.5	Beginning To Score Point 0.75	Yes Score Point 1.0
The claim is missing	The claim is incorrect or irrelevant.	The claim partially takes a position on the topic or issue addressed within the prompt.	The claim takes an appropriate position on the topic or issue addressed within the prompt.
There is no type of evidence in the response	The evidence is irrelevant or does not support the claim.	The evidence partially supports the claim and demonstrates some understanding of the topic or text, using appropriate sources.	The evidence supports the claim and demonstrates a strong understanding of the topic or text, using appropriate sources.
There is no use of words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and to clarify the relationship between the claim and evidence.	Use of words, phrases and clauses fail to show or explain any relationship between the claim and evidence.	Scientific words, phrases, and clauses used lack cohesion but partially clarify the relationship between the claim and evidence.	Appropriate scientific words, phrases, and clauses are used to create cohesion and to clarify the relationship between the claim and evidence.