Lesson 3: Collisions 3
Duration of Days: 1
Lesson Objective
1. Students will use evidence from laser experiments, time-lapse videos, and slow-motion clips to prove that all solid objects bend when a force is applied to them.
2. Argue like a scientist by using data to support or disprove an original claim about how solid objects behave in a crash.
3. Explain what happens at the microscopic level to show how even the hardest materials (like concrete, steel, or brick) flex and change shape during a collision.
Do all objects change shape or bend when they are pushed in a collision?
collision
force
kinetic energy
damage
contact force
deform
line of best fit
elastic limit
breaking point
Independent variable
dependent variable
peak force
free body diagram
concussion
axon
stored (potential) energy
air resistance
friction
MS-PS2-1
MS-PS2-2
MS-PS3-1
MS-LS1-8
MS-ETS1-2
MS-ETS1-3
Description:
Students will become "myth-busters" as they test the claim that some hard objects never bend. By bouncing laser beams off surfaces, analyzing high-tech engineering videos of concrete, and reviewing slow-motion footage, students will gather evidence to see microscopic bending in action and debate whether their original ideas about "unbendable" objects were right or wrong.
Purpose
Students will discover that even the strongest materials on Earth—like concrete walls or steel beams—actually bend and flex like giant rubber bands when they are pushed. Understanding this hidden flexibility helps students see how buildings, bridges, and safety gear absorb energy to keep us safe during a collision.
DOK 3
For English Language Learners (ELL) & Emerging Readers: Provide sentence starters for the scientific argument phase (e.g., "The laser evidence proves that... because...", "I used to think _____, but the video changed my mind because...").
For Students Needing Extra Support (Scaffolding): Use a guided "Evidence Tracker" graphic organizer with fill-in-the-blank sections to help them record observations from the three specific stations (laser, timelapse, slow-mo).
For Visual & Tactile Learners: Before the laser experiment, give students small blocks of different materials (foam, wood, plastic) to physically press down on, helping them connect the physical sensation of resistance to the microscopic bending shown by the laser beam.
Formative Assessments