Crash-Test Cars Safely — A Crumple Zone Physics Project
The 16-session plan
Mechanics & Crumple Zone Physics
Learn Newton's second law (F=ma), impulse, and energy absorption — the physics behind why crumple zones save lives. Install the phyphox app, explore its accelerometer feature, and sketch your toy car design with a front slot for interchangeable crumple zones.
Build the Car & Setup
Construct your toy car using balsa wood or plastic, attach wheels with axles, and build a secure smartphone mount that aligns the accelerometer with the car's forward motion. Set up a pulley system with a hanging weight to pull the car toward a fixed barrier at a consistent speed.
Stability & Reliability Testing
Test your car for stability by running sample collisions and checking that it can handle repeated impacts without significant damage. Finalize any front reinforcements and analyze how the crumple zone material and mass will affect your experiment.
Frequently asked questions
Who is this project a great fit for?+
BlueRobins projects are designed for curious students in Grades 3-12 who want to build. No prior experience is needed — mentors start wherever your child is and grow the challenge as they grow.
What does a typical session look like?+
Your child meets 1-on-1 with their mentor every week over Google Meet. Programs run 16 sessions of 45 minutes each. Sessions are hands-on from minute one — building, designing, coding, writing, experimenting — with the mentor coaching live, asking great questions, and unlocking the next step.
What will my child build by the end?+
A finished project they're proud of and can show the world. Across 16 sessions, your child turns an ambitious idea into a working app, prototype, research write-up, portfolio, or published artifact. Every student finishes with a completion certificate signed by their mentor.
Why a free trial first?+
So your child can meet their mentor, get a feel for the project, and leave the call excited. The trial is a complimentary 1-on-1 free trial session — no credit card needed. After the trial, you decide if it's the right fit. Most families know within the first 15 minutes.