How do we protect the things and people we care about from collisions?

In this project, students identify situations in which individuals need protection from collisions or impact and then propose and build protective solutions. Some examples include more secure baby strollers or shopping carts; helmets for high-impact sports such as skateboarding, football, or biking; and a shoe design that lowers the impact of running. In the process of the project, students learn concepts of Newtonian physics and apply those concepts to the analysis of the type of collision and the design of their solutions. Students confer with subject matter experts (such as industrial designers, fabricators, or engineers) at key points throughout the project to inform and gather feedback on their product designs.