Fying objects the NZTA and Newton’s first law

Flying Objects (The title of an NZTA road safety video)

Information from the NZ transport agency website.

“Last year, 633 people were killed or seriously injured on New Zealand roads because they were travelling at a speed too fast for the conditions. Many people habitually speed on the open road and around urban streets. But they still consider themselves to be driving within a safe limit. They don’t realise that mistakes we all make in our driving have far more serious consequences as our speed increases.

Vehicles are much safer than they used to be. Our roads are also continually upgraded and changed to make them safer for drivers. But while improvements are constant in these areas, there’s one weak link that will never be upgraded – the human body.

Over the years average speeds have dropped and people are aware that excessive speed can cause injury in a crash. But with this campaign we aim to get people to truly understand the vulnerability of their own body in a crash.

It’s indisputable that there are limits to what a body can sustain from crash forces before it is seriously injured or damaged. Even driving just a little over the speed limit significantly increases the impact on our bodies in a crash, resulting in a much greater chance of serious injury or death.”

 

Newton’s first law movie……low budget but far superior version by Rutherford High School year 10’s.

DO NOT try some of these activities at home

 

Homework:

End of unit test next thursday. Try this practise test. Either print out and write anwers on paper or do directly into your books.

Forces and acceleration (1)

Top Gear and the Vampire, the ultimate acceleration on four wheels

…..and now the maths and science.

Vampire: technical information
estimated top speed; 370 mph
acceleration 0 to 272 mph in 6 seconds
engine; Rolls Royce Orpheus.
fuel economy: 7-10gallons per mile
Weight 2,200lbs(998Kg)
length 30 feet (9.14m)

Challenge: apply your science with some mathematics

Apply the science you have been studying to answer questions abouth the vanpire. Click on the comments button at the foot of this post and leave your answers.

The first 6 mostly correct answers  will receive a mars bar (year 11 students or younger)

  1. calculate the top speed in metres per second
  2. calculate the acceleration in metres per second per second
  3. The acceleration is produced by an unbalanced force. Calculate the thrust produced by the Rolls Royce Orpheus engine for this unbalanced force.
  4. Why is the thrust produced by the engine actually much greater?
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