Crash Science in the Classroom | Login Register Reset Password About Lessons Videos Understanding Car Crashes Engage in Crash Science Crash Science Extensions Video Directory FAQ Feedback Select Page A free educational resource for grades 5-12. Watch the latest Crash Science Demo video. Watch Download lessons and activities. Download the full guide Need access to materials for your child? Note to parents Take a Virtual Field Trip to the VRC. View the Field Trip Engage in Crash Science Join Professor Griff Jones at the IIHS Vehicle Research Center for engaging demonstrations and crash tests as he explores the science behind car crashes and vehicle safety.  Crash Science Demos about 28 minutes Predict, observe and explain as you watch these crash-science demonstrations. Crashworthiness Then and Now about 2 minutes Predict, observe and explain the results of a crash between a vintage car and a modern car. Virtual Field Trip about 50 minutes Step inside the Vehicle Research Center for an immersive 360° field trip experience. IIHS LEGO Crash Tests about 5 minutes Check out these LEGO crash tests built by an IIHS engineer who works at the Vehicle Research Center. Crash Science Lessons Conduct classroom-tested, hands-on activities aligned to the latest standards to bring crash safety STEM applications to grades 5-12. Teaching tips videos included. Penny for Your Thoughts on Inertia about 35 minutes Use pennies and index cards to explore inertia and the well-known magician's tablecloth trick. Pain in the Neck about 50 minutes Use tennis balls to explore inertia and how to prevent whiplash injuries in rear-end crashes. Momentum Bashing 1 about 40 minutes Use inclined ruler ramps to explore how mass affects a marble's "bashing power." Momentum Bashing 2 about 50 minutes Use ruler ramps to explore how speed affects a marble's "bashing power." Egg Crash! Engineering a Crash Cushion about 50 minutes Build a crash cushion for a dropped egg to explore how airbags reduce crash forces. Conservation: It's the Law! about 50 minutes Use marbles and foam pipe insulation "track" to explore where energy "goes" during a collision. Ball of Energy about 50 minutes Throw a tennis ball into the air and collect data to determine impact speed. Twirling Penny about 50 minutes Twirl a penny on a hanger to explore circular motion and how seatbelts and banked roadways protect occupants during turns. Think Fast, Act Fast about 40 minutes Practice catching rulers to calculate reaction time and how far a car travels during a given reaction time. Distracted Driving Dangers about 100 minutes Explore how different distractions affect the time it takes to complete a numbered finger maze. Not Your Average [Crash Test] Dummy about 50-150 minutes Explore crash test dummies and crash science research using real-world data and statistics. Picture This about 50-100 minutes Use real-world crash data to construct and interpret three of the most commonly used types of graphs. Stressing Silly Putty about 100 minutes Conduct stretch-tests on homemade slime to explore how engineers design more realistic crash test dummies. Stressing Over Pencil Pressure about 40 minutes Use pencil push-tests to learn the difference between force and pressure and explore how safety features protect human bodies in a crash. SONAR Slinky about 50 minutes Make longitudinal pulses and waves with a Slinky and learn about sound and ultrasonic sensors. RADAR Slinky about 50 minutes Make transverse pulses and waves with a Slinky and learn about different types of light waves and their use in crash avoidance technologies. Paper Car Crash! about 2 weeks As a culminating activity option, design, build, and crash an egg-carrying paper car to determine the most crashworthy design. Project Pedestrian about 150 minutes As a culminating engineering activity option, design, build, and test pedestrian-safe bumpers for a toy car using wireless sensors. Understanding Car Crashes Videos Explore the science behind what happens in a car crash — both to the car and to those inside it — and discover why some vehicles are safer than others. Understanding Car Crashes: It's Basic Physics Discover how the laws of physics apply to crash tests and help engineers design safer cars to protect occupants in a crash. Viewing Options: Full Video (25 minutes) Full Video with Questions Video Segments with Questions GO GO Understanding Car Crashes: When Physics Meets Biology Explore what happens to the human body in a crash and the scientific principles doctors and engineers use to reduce injuries. Viewing Options: Full Video (24 minutes) Full Video with Questions Video Segments with Questions GO Crash Science Extensions Expand your crash safety knowledge and STEM skills with these videos. Inside IIHS about 40 minutes Go behind-the-scenes at the IIHS Vehicle Research Center to explore how crash tests and other safety tests are conducted. Deep Dive with Dummies about 23 minutes Discover more about the dummies IIHS uses and why they are important in crash testing. Teen Driving about 30 minutes It's tough (and dangerous) to be a beginning driver. Explore the challenges young drivers confront. How Cars Can Avoid a Crash about 15 minutes Learn more about the crash avoidance testing program. Global Crashworthiness about 15 minutes Watch this crash test to see why other countries also have new car testing programs. Testimonials "The coverage is fascinating, and most importantly, the physics is correct. It's a first-rate teaching package. I give it five stars!" Paul G. Hewitt Author of Conceptual Physics, 12th edition “The videos are outstanding--some of the best I've ever used in my physics classes in my 35 years of teaching.” Paul Robinson High school physic teacher Author of Conceptual Physics Laboratory Manual, 12th edition “I couldn’t have done a better job. Griff’s presentations were masterful. I applaud the whole team.” Lou Bloomfield Professor of Physics Emeritus, University of Virginia, Author of How Things Work: The Physics of Everyday Life "The content is great and the way you present it is simply energizing. I wish they could reach every school in the world." Adriano Morozini de Lira Safety Specialist, German Automotive Manufacturer "Keep up the good work, and thank you for all of the real-life data and lessons!" Dani Stroud Gilbert High School “It is wonderful to see the IIHS’s good work presented digitally in an engaging, scientifically fun way.” Fran Penner-Ray Traffic Education Director, Montana Office of Public Instruction “Also a great resource for science-focused summer camps.” Kim Freudenberg M.Ed. Physics teacher "The videos throughout are so well done and short enough to hold anyone’s attention.” Vicki Moorehead M.Ed. 5th/6th Grade Science & STEM STREAM Coordinator "Pulls you into the science with great content chunking and videography working together." Derek Stewart Online Instructor, Florida Virtual School "The website is clean, clear and inviting with thorough, engaging, and informative videos and lessons." Dawn Settle Middle school gifted teacher Parent Access Update Parents can access free teacher resources by registering and logging on to the site. Click on the “Teachers” tab available under the Understanding Car Crashes videos or Lessons to view step-by-step instructions on how to best use the content. Materials include lesson plans, guiding questions, teacher tip videos and more. Explore vehicle ratings and more Review NGSS alignment About Me This award-winning teacher and professor is your guide to the science of car crashes and vehicle safety. Learn more about Griff ©1996-2023, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute, 501(c)(3) organizations | Privacy Policy Login Sign up Remember me Forgot Password? 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