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A Study on the Absorption

of Impact Force by Gelatin
and Air Bubble Packing
Matthew DeSantis ~ Cousino
Jacqueline Orjada ~ Sterling Heights

Purpose
Improving on the concept of
airbags.
Cheaper and potentially safer
force absorbing materials.

Contents
Background Info
Question
Hypothesis
Key Information
Materials
Procedure Diagram
Video
Observations
Box Plots
Data Analysis
Conclusion
Works Cited
Thanks
Questions?
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Gelatin Background
Information

Water

Collagen Chains

Bubble Wrap Background

Information
Bubble Wrap Increases the
time of impact, decreasing
the force.
Bubble Wrap also functioned
in the experiment as a small
scale representation as
airbags.
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Question

What Material Will Decrease

the Force of a Horizontal
Impact Collision the Most?

Hypothesis
If two varieties of both Jell-O
and bubble wrap are used to
decrease the force of
impact, then the high
viscosity Jell-O would reduce
the force the most.

Key Information
F = mass*acceleration
Increasing time decreases
force

Materials

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Procedure Diagram

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Roll Video

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Bubble Wrap
Observations
Trial #

1.91cm Bubble Observations

Accelerometer screw came loose; Trial

Redone

Marble did not launch; Trial Redone

Marble launched backwards; Trial Redone

22

Researchers forgot to rotate bubble wrap;

Trial Redone

26

Marble failed to launch; Trial Redone

Trial #

0.95 cm Bubble Observations

Brick shifted upon impact; Trial Redone

Brick Shifted upon impact; Trial Redone

Researchers forgot to rotate bubble wrap;

Trial Redone

20

Switched to new sheet of bubble wrap,

marble was forgotten, brick was not centered;
Trial Redone
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Jell-O Observations
Trial
#

Low Viscosity Jell-O Observations

Car pushed brick; Trial Redone

Brick wasn't completely against ramp; Trial

Redone

10

Used half portion of Jell-O from this trial on.

28

Dot couldn't be found; Trial Redone

Trial #

High Viscosity Jell-O Observations

Marble didn't launch; Trial Redone

12

Cars wheels filled with Jell-O; cleaned wheel

wells

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Accelerometer cord got caught; Trial Redone

22

Accelerometer cord got caught; Trial redone

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2-Sample t-Tests
(3) 2-Sample t-Tests were
done
Factors were checked to
ensure normality.

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Force Data Boxplots

LG
Bubbl
e
SM
Bubble

HV
Jell-O

LV
JELLO

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Distance Data
Boxplots

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Analysis Recap
The null hypothesis for Bubble
Wrap was:

ACCEPTED
The null hypothesis for Jell-O
was:

REJECTED
The null hypothesis between
Bubble Wrap and Jell-O was:

REJECTED
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Conclusion
The hypothesis that the
high viscosity Jell-O was
the best material was:

ACCEPTED
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What Does This

Mean?
Gelatin has been proven,
when tested on a small
scale, to be a substitute for,
as well as an improvement
on, air bags.
It may be possible to reduce
the costs of car safety.
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Experimental Error
Bubble Wraps Nature to Pop
Thin Gelatins Nature to
Splatter
The State of the Car

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Further Research
Greater range of values
Other types of collisions
Other directions of force

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Thanks
Mr. McMillan
Mrs. Cybulski
Mr. Supal
Mrs. Tallman
Marko Lin
DeSantis Family
Orjada Family
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Works Cited
Head On Collision Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=IdJvSBGWEhk
Racetrack Noise:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=qyxvPiOqEiE
Triple Helix Image:
http://www.proto-col.com/skin/
frontend/shopper/protocol/images/infopages/col-collagen-helix.png

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Any Questions?

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