Driving SCIENCE STEM Activity 6 Researching Energy

Safety Features With your team, read Seatbelts, Airbags, and Crumple Zones. Create a graphic organizer such as a web or chart in your notebooks to compare safety features that manage energy in an accident.

Designing a Propulsion System Jared was babysitting his younger brother. He wanted to find a way to entertain his brother to keep him happy. Jared’s little brother loves fast cars. Searching through his desk, Jared found a toy car, balloon, drinking straw, tape, and paperclips. How might Jared use the materials to build a propulsion system to make the car move?

Drawing a Prototype Without taking the materials out of the bag, work with your team to: Brainstorm possible designs. Agree on one design for the propulsion system. Make a drawing of the design in your notebook.

Reflecting on Safety Features How might energy work in your balloon car? What new information did you learn about energy and car safety features? Will what you learned make a difference in your behaviors as a driver or passenger? Why or why not?

Thanks to PDI 2 partners who sponsored the development of this activity and provided professional development support: American Honda Foundation DuPont CU-ICAR Safety-Kleen, EcoPower Fluor United States Conference of Mayors Thanks to race track partners who provided support for teachers: Darlington Raceway, Daytona International Speedway, Dover International Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, and Richmond International Raceway Copyright © 2015 Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina (SC).