Collision: when 2 objects run into each other

Damage: a permanent change in shape

Pattern: something that happens each time or repeats

Variable: something you can change to affect the results of an experiment

Force: a push or a pull, measured by Newtons (N)

Kinetic Energy: energy of motion

Deform: a change in shape- can be temporary or permanent

Independent Variable: the variable that YOU change. This is the “cause”

Dependent Variable: the variable that you observe and measure. This is the “effect”.

Controlled Variable (Control): The variables that are kept constant in an experiment.

Line of Best Fit: The straight line connecting points on a graph- shows the average results. There should be an equal number of dots above and below the line.

Elastic Limit: The farthest an object can bend before it becomes permanently deformed.

Breaking Point: The point during bending where an object breaks.

Peak Force: The maximum amount of force during a collision

What happens when things hit each other?

• In a collision between two objects, the objects make contact with each other

• Sometimes something is damaged, but not always.

• Different variables can change the outcome of the collision

• There are 2 types of collisions

• There may be changes we cannot see

• We can see changes in speed, direction or shape

• There is energy transfer in a collision

A Collision: Moving object collides with a still object

B Collision: Moving object collides with a moving object

Patterns in collisions

2 objects touch

Something always moving

Always 2 objects

Damage or no damage

More speed= more damage

More mass= more damage

More force= more damage

A transfer in kinetic energy causes a change in motion

A change in shape is caused by force during a collision

A change in motion occurs in every collision to at least one object. That’s because there’s always a transfer in kinetic energy.

How much force is needed to get an object to deform temporarily? How about permanently?

When a force is applied in a collision, all objects deform immediately, even if the force is very tiny.

Materials deform temporarily until they reach their elastic limit.

As force increases, deformation also increases.

When enough force is applied to reach the elastic limit, the object deforms permanently.

When enough force is applied to reach the breaking point, the object will break or crack.

Each object requires a different amount of force to reach their elastic limit and breaking point.

The material and thickness will determine how much force is needed to reach the elastic limit and breaking point.

Control: Person, diet, water intake, etc.

Do all objects require the same force to get to the same outcome?

No, all objects require a different amount of force to reach their elastic limit and breaking point. The MATERIAL and the THICKNESS are going to affect how much it deforms and how quickly it gets damaged.

When 2 objects make contact, each object applies a FORCE on the other object on the surface where they touch. Every single time, the strength of the forces are EQUAL but they are in OPPOSITE directions.

How does changing mass or speed affect these forces?

Increasing the mass of one or both objects INCREASES the force of a collision but these forces will remain EQUAL .

Decreasing the mass of one or both objects DECREASES the force of a collision but these forces will remain EQUAL.

Increasing the speed of one or both objects INCREASES the force of a collision but these forces will remain EQUAL.

Decreasing the speed of one or both objects DECREASES the force of a collision but these forces will remain EQUAL .

Newton’s Law 3 in Motion in Physics: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

2 items come into contact

Both objects put a force on each other

The forces between objects are EQUAL (the same)

The forces are in OPPOSITE directions