Can Loose Objects in a Car Cause Serious Injury? A Newton's First Law Experiment

[Steph]

Hey there everyone

I need to do a presentation that shows the danger of having loose objects in the car...using Newton's first law...i'm stuck for ideas, we have to make some experiment like an egg on a trolley or something...does anyone have any ideas?

Steph

 

[Njorl]

If the loose object is a rattlesnake the demo is pretty easy.

Njorl

 

[AJ Bentley]

I once hitched a lift in a lorry carrying over 20 tons of steel bars on a flatbed right behind the cab.
The driver had never heard of Newton's first law. I guess that's why he took the job.

 

[turbo]

My brother-in-law once did just such a demonstration himself. He had a tool-box full of heavy stuff like wrenches, hammers, chisels, etc on the floor of the cab of his pickup and he missed a curve and rolled his truck in the ditch. That toolbox beat the crap out of him. To add to the authenticity, he wasn't wearing his seat-belt (never does!). I'm surprised he's still alive.

You could do a safer demonstration using a clear plastic enclosure on a cart with an egg and a ball-bearing or a large hex nut or some other dense object inside.