Crash Test Dummies

By Michelle Daniel •

Grade Level	9th
Subject Area	Mathematics
Duration	2 - 70 minute class blocks
Setting	Traditional classroom
Background Knowledge	Newton ’s First Law of Motion, Graphing Scatter Plots, Correlations, Trend lines, Creating Data Tables, Writing Equations, Defining Variables, Solving Equations.
Author	Michelle Daniel

Summary
This portfolio project will provide students with a basic understanding of the physics behind car crashes and seatbelt use (i.e. Newton’s First Law of Motion). Students will perform mathematical analyses on statistical data obtained from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety concerning car accidents and fatalities. Students will also analyze Car Insurance costs through writing equations, solving equations, graphing insurance data. Students will also write a conclusion essay, summarizing what they learned during the portfolio project.

Objectives
1. Understand how Newton’s First Law applies to car crashes 2. Identify ways to avoid car crashes and car crash injuries 3. Understand the importance of seatbelts 4. Understand how seatbelts work 5. Understand how good grades affect car insurance rates 6. Apply mathematical knowledge to construct data tables and graphs 7. Apply mathematical knowledge to write and solve equations 8. Apply mathematical knowledge to construct word problems and solve them. 9. Summarize what was learned during the portfolio project

Materials
• Power Point Presentation “Crash Test Dummies” • Computer • Internet • Projector • Portfolio Packet • 2 pieces of graph paper

Ohio Standards

Mathematics

Standard: Number, Number Sense and Operation
- Benchmark D : Connect physical, verbal and symbolic representations of integers, rational numbers and irrational numbers.
- Benchmark F : Explain the effects of operations on the magnitude of quantities
- Benchmark G : Estimate, compute and solve problems involving real numbers, including ratio, proportion and percent, and explain solutions.
- Benchmark I : Estimate, compute and solve problems involving scientific notation, square roots and numbers with integer exponents.
- Indicator 3 : Explain the effects of operations such as multiplication or division, and of computing powers and roots on the magnitude of quantities.
- Indicator 4 : Demonstrate fluency in computations using real numbers.
Standard: Patterns, Functions and Algebra
- Benchmark C : Translate information from one representation (words, table, graph or equation) to another representation of a relation or function.
- Benchmark D : Use algebraic representations, such as tables, graphs, expressions, functions and inequalities, to model and solve problem situations.
- Benchmark H : Solve systems of linear equations involving two variables graphically and symbolically.
- Benchmark J : Describe and interpret rates of change from graphical and numerical data.
- Indicator 1 : Define function with ordered pairs in which each domain element is assigned exactly one range element.
- Indicator 2 : Generalize patterns using functions or relationships (linear, quadratic, and exponential), and freely translate among tabular, graphical and symbolic representations
- Indicator 3 : Describe problem situations (linear, quadratic and exponential) by using tabular, graphical and symbolic representations.
- Indicator 4 : Demonstrate the relationship among zeros of a function, root of equations, and solutions of equations graphically and in words.
Standard: Data Analysis and Probability
- Benchmark A: Create, interpret and use graphical displays and statistical measure to describe data; e.g., box-and-whisker plots, histograms, scatterplots, measures of center and variability.
- Benchmark F : Construct convincing arguments based on analysis of data and interpretation of graphs.
- Indicator 2 : Create a scatterplot for a set of biveriate data, sketch the line of best fit, and interpret the slope of the line of best fit.

Science

Standard: Scientific Inquiry
- Benchmark A : Participate in and apply the processes of scientific investigations to create models and to design, conduct, evaluate and communicate the results of these investigations.
- Indicator 3 : Construct, interpret and apply physical and conceptual models that represent or explain systems, objects events or concepts.
Standard: Physical Sciences
- Benchmark D : Explain the movement of objects by applying Newton’s three laws of motion.
- Indicator 22 : Demonstrate that any object does not accelerate (remains at rest or maintains a constant speed and direction of motion) unless an unbalance (net) force acts on it.