The Crash Guy Explains the Science of Vehicle Braking
I teach math and science concepts through the analysis of motor vehicle collisions. I have investigated thirty thousand collisions over three plus decades. The real-world application of this knowledge can change how a student views math.
What's included
1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
Intermediate Level
I stand in front of a white board with a sketch of an intersection and a vehicle approaching that intersection. I explain driver reaction time when a stop is needed, distance covered during that reaction delay based on speed. I then explain how a co-efficiency of friction ultimately determines travel distance while braking. I explain the math for determining roadway friction, the math for determining needed distance to stop, and the math for calculating initial speed from a skid mark.
Learning Goals
I give students actionable knowledge they are eager to apply and discuss outside of my sessions.Following this session, the student will understand the forces that determine speed loss for a braking vehicle. They will know how to predict the distance needed to stop based on vehicle speed.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
A discussion on "motor vehicle collisions" can be a challenging conversation for children that have experienced a significant accident or experienced personal loss from such an event. While my comments around motor vehicle accidents will be vague and general, I advise against signing up a young person that may have associated trauma. Either way, I do not focus on sensational conversations related to tragic outcomes or injuries, I use the science of vehicle dynamics and the biomechanics of human response to prove basic math and science concepts.
Pre-Requisites
Knowledge of basic algebra is helpful for the students attending. Each participant should have a calculator handy during the presentation, it need not be a scientific calculator (not yet) as long as it can calculate square root.
Supply List
I will provide a one-page handout that summarizes the concepts discussed in my first learning session. Each participant should have a calculator handy during the presentation, it need not be a scientific calculator (not yet) as long as it can calculate square roots (a cell phone calculator will often have this option if the phone is held sideways).
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined October, 2024
Teacher expertise and credentials
I have been an expert collision investigator for more than three decades. I am a retired law enforcement officer, and in that field my expertise was collision reconstruction. I have since spent twenty years as a corporate safety director for the largest commercial transport company in North America, I lead roadway safety initiatives for that Fortune 200 company, but also serve as their expert collision investigator. I have trained thousands of police officers how to investigate motor vehicle accidents, and I have trained thousands of civilians to do the same, I have also taught applied physics classes in a local high school, using "motor vehicle collisions" to teach Conservation of Angular Momentum concepts. Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$20
per classMeets once
55 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
10-18 learners per class
