In this STEM Design Challenge, students will explore the ideas of impulse and momentum in relation to the impact of a collision in sports activities. Using the engineering design process, students will determine which type of materials minimize the effect of the force on an object involved in a collision by measuring how high a ball bounces up when dropped from a standard height.
Students will create a prototype of a piece of protective gear for their chosen sport for their ball (representing a player’s head) that will be tested on a surface that most matches the sport for which they are creating their protective gear.
As students work through the challenge, they will develop essential skills in time management, adaptability, and innovative thinking—connecting classroom learning to real-world careers and applications in science and engineering.
