Question

f snowmen destruction is like skater injuries on our ramp, how can you use what you learned from the Gizmo to design a safer ramp? (Use words like mass or height, more or less, and describe how you would make it safe.)


Vocabulary: mass, height, number of

Answer 1

From the Gizmo I learned that bigger mass or greater height made the snowmen get destroyed more. Using that idea for our ramp:

- Make the ramp less tall (less height). A lower ramp means skaters have less potential energy and come down with less force.
- Make the slope less steep and extend the landing area (more gradual transition). That spreads the deceleration over a longer distance and reduces the force of impact.
- Add more padding or cushioning at the bottom and along likely crash zones. More padding increases the time of impact, which lowers the force on the skater.
- Limit the number of skaters on the ramp at once (fewer people). Fewer skaters reduces collisions and chances of injury.
- Reduce extra carried mass when possible (less mass): no backpacks or heavy gear during tricks, and use appropriately light equipment.
- Require protective gear (helmet, pads) and small safety barriers to prevent falls from the sides.

These changes—less height, less steepness, more padding, fewer people, and less extra mass—will make the ramp safer.