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Crash Barrel Effectiveness

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Crash Barrel Effectiveness | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
In this experiment, you'll be testing the effectiveness of crash barrels filled with water and sand. You'll measure the deformation of a copper barrier after a collision with a model car. Will the crash barrels be able to absorb the impact?

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that paper cups filled with water and sand will be able to absorb a greater amount of impact during a collision.

Method & Materials

You will set up a ramp, place a model car on top, and place paper cups filled with water and sand in front of a copper barrier. You will then measure the deformation of the copper barrier after the collision.
You will need a ramp, 3 empty paper cups, 3 paper cups filled with water, 3 paper cups filled with sand, a model car, 12 plates of copper, 2 long nails, a ruler, and a roll of masking tape.

Results

The results show that the cups filled with water and sand are able to absorb more impact from the collision, than the empty cups. The deformation of the copper plate was at its greatest with the empty cups.

Why do this project?

This science project is interesting because it tests the effectiveness of crash barrels filled with water and sand. It also shows how crash barrels can help reduce the damage to vehicles and roadside structures in the event of a collision.

Also Consider

Consider testing which is a better impact absorber - water or sand? You could also try repeating the experiment by raising the ramp gradient in order to increase the speed of the car.

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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