Cushioning structure design

13.A Construct an explanation for how (and why) the structure of a cushioning material affects the peak forces produced (function) in a collision, relating the amount of space available for deformation, the total contact time during a collision, and the peak forces produced from the addition of such structures.

• Good cushioning (force-reduction) materials have space available in them for deformation.
• More space available for deformation is related to an increased contact time during the collision.
• Increases in contact time in the collision is related to decreased peak forces produced in the collision.

The individual Progress Tracker is designed to be a space for students to make sense of what they have figured out, and therefore these individual entries may or may not be shared with and reviewed by the teacher at different points in the unit. For this specific entry, use what students have entered individually as a formative assessment piece that is not scored but instead is used to ensure students are ready to move on the next day. At the end of this lesson, the class will co-construct a three-box Progress Tracker to record what the class has come to consensus on about what they have figured out about cushioners. At that point, students may turn to this entry and use what they have recorded here as they help the class co-construct. Because this entry serves as a formative assessment piece, you may choose to just read through them to gauge where students are at and/or, for those that might benefit from thinking more about the question, you could leave question prompts as feedback directly in their notebook on this entry.