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Daily Do

Why Are NASCAR Crashes So Dangerous?

Is Lesson Plan Physical Science Middle School

Sensemaking Checklist

Lesson Overview

Grade band: 6-8


Through video clips, students experience crashes (between cars and between cars and the track wall) that occurred during NASCAR races, which raises this question: How do speed and mass (weight) affect the amount of damage to a race car in a collision? Students use a computer simulation to collect collision data, then look for patterns in these data to help determine if mass and/or speed affect the amount of damage cars sustain in a collision. Students also use evidence to support a claim about which of the two factors—mass (weight) or speed—causes more damage to the car.


 

Materials

          - Clip A: 2:30–3:08

          - Clip B: 4:51–6.07

          - Clip C: 14.41–15.08

Asset 2