Does Air Pressure Affect Cushioning?
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We're going to explore how air pressure in a football helmet affects cushioning. We'll use a pump, a pulley, a simulation of a human head, and an accelerator probe to measure the force of impact.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that the higher the air pressure in the padding of the helmet, the smaller the force of impact.
Method & Materials
You will tie a string to the bottom of a pulley, attach a weight to another string, and set up the equipment to measure the force of impact. You will then insert the accelerometer probe into the simulation of a human head, pump air into the padding of the football helmet, and release the weight on the helmet and the simulated head.
You will need 4 plastic football helmets, a pump, a pulley, a simulation of a human's head, 2 lengths of string, cellophane tape, an accelerator probe, and a computer.
Results
The results showed that as the air pressure in the padding of the helmet increased, the force of impact decreased. This supports the hypothesis that the higher the air pressure in the padding of the helmet, the smaller the force of impact.
Why do this project?
This science project is interesting because it explores how air pressure affects cushioning, which is an important factor in protecting athletes from head injuries.
Also Consider
Experiment variations to consider include using different materials for the simulation of the human head and using different weights.
Full project details
You can find additional information and details for this science fair project here. Have fun exploring!Related videos
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