KINETIC ENERGY LAB · MASS VS. SPEED

CRASH TEST LAB

What makes a crash worse: a heavier vehicle or a faster one? Crash test vehicles into Kyle, calculate the kinetic energy, and let the data decide.

1. Your name (goes on your worksheet)

2. Meet your crash test dummy

This is Kyle. He's a crash test dummy, so getting hit is literally his job. He'll sit in his car while bigger and faster vehicles crash into him. Don't worry: he gets bolted back together after every crash.

3. Choose a mode

DIRECTIONS

How to use Crash Test Lab

🎯 Your goal: Find out what makes a crash more dangerous, more mass or more speed. In Lab Mode, finish all 14 crashes and your worksheet.

1
Get startedType your name, choose Lab Mode, and tap START. (Explore Mode lets you crash anything with no math.)
2
Make a hypothesisPredict which is more dangerous: a vehicle with twice the mass or one with twice the speed. Explain why.
3
Calculate KE before every crashUse the card: KE = ½ × m × v². Type your answer and tap Check. Need help? Use the 🧮 calculator.
4
Send it!Tap 💥 SEND IT. The vehicle backs up to the start line, waits for the countdown, and races in. Watch the crash and read the damage report. Your data table and graphs fill in as you go.
5
Part 1, then Part 2Part 1 doubles the mass 7 times (same speed). Part 2 doubles the speed 7 times (same car).
6
Analyze your dataAnswer the pattern questions, write your conclusion, and check your hypothesis.
7
Turn it inTake a screenshot of your finished worksheet and turn it in.

💡 Tips: Tap ❓ anytime to see these directions again. Your data table and graphs are in the 📋 panel. Confused? Tap a Why? button or open 📖 Vocab. On a phone, use the tabs at the bottom of the screen. Tap ✕ on a card to shrink it so you can see the crash. Seen enough drive-ups? Tap ⏩ Skip to the crash.

👩‍🏫 For teachers

Lab Mode takes about 35–45 minutes: a hypothesis, 14 KE calculations (each gated with targeted hints), 6 pattern questions, a written conclusion, and a hypothesis check. Students turn in a screenshot of the finished worksheet, which shows their name, date, ID, both data tables and graphs, and their typed answers. Early finishers can use Explore Mode to find the speed where the sedan matches the bus's energy, or test the train. Progress saves in the browser on that device. Lesson plan, NGSS alignment, and discussion questions →