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.
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.
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.
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! Designing a Collision Safety Device
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.
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:
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.
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.
Deep Dive with Dummies
about 21 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
Paul Robinson
High school physic teacher Author of Conceptual Physics Laboratory Manual, 12th edition
Lou Bloomfield
Professor of Physics Emeritus, University of Virginia, Author of How Things Work: The Physics of Everyday Life
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
Fran Penner-Ray
Traffic Education Director, Montana Office of Public Instruction
Kim Freudenberg
M.Ed. Physics teacher
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
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.