Description:
For this task, we were assigned to designing a theoretical helmet for the purposes of our project. We adapted a classic racing/motorcycle helmet to serve the purpose of protecting a rider of a monowheel specifically. To do this we split into 2 primary groups: one to research and concept the materials and specifications of the helmet, the other to design and model the shape of the helmet.
Our main change to the classic helmet is the increase in horizontal visual capacity. This is particularly useful for the monowheel as when driving, the tire inhibits a portions of one's sight line. The wider view angle would seek to combat some of this through allowing for greater vision overall.
Below is a rough orthographic sketch of what the helmet may look like if it was constructed.
For this task, we were assigned to designing a theoretical helmet for the purposes of our project. We adapted a classic racing/motorcycle helmet to serve the purpose of protecting a rider of a monowheel specifically. To do this we split into 2 primary groups: one to research and concept the materials and specifications of the helmet, the other to design and model the shape of the helmet.
Our main change to the classic helmet is the increase in horizontal visual capacity. This is particularly useful for the monowheel as when driving, the tire inhibits a portions of one's sight line. The wider view angle would seek to combat some of this through allowing for greater vision overall.
Below is a rough orthographic sketch of what the helmet may look like if it was constructed.
Below is our final analysis of the helmet, conditions in which it functions, what materials it is made out of, and why those materials were selected for our helmet.
Concepts:
This project focused on understanding the physics involved in an impact and the mathematical equations that accompanied a crash.
Death Thresholds: The values that will on average kill a human. We checked death thresholds of force and acceleration, using an acceleration of 640 m/s^2 and a force of 4,900 Newtons as our lethal thresholds.
Impulse(J) and Momentum(p): Momentum is the amount of motion an object has, or how hard an object is to stop(p=m*v). Impulse is defined as a change in momentum(J=F*Δt). As impulse is a change in momentum, these variables can be set equal to each other, represented by m*v=F*Δt. We used this equation to calculate the force of impact.
Newton's Second Law: The relationship between mass, acceleration, and force, represented by the equation F=m*a. We used this equation to calculate the acceleration a person would experience in a crash with and without a helmet.
Reflection:
Overall, this project went fairly well. The coordination between members of our group was particularly good. When one job needed to be done, we were able to shift jobs relatively quickly to continue working efficiently at the parts of this project that needed to be finished. My ability to research was also improved in this project. We needed to find specific numbers involving what accelerations and forces are lethal for the purpose of showing that our helmet can save a life. We were able to coordinate our research efforts and successfully find these numbers without spending much wasted time at dead ends during this research time.
Though it overall went well, there were certainly improvements that could be made. Our time management is one factor that could certainly improve. During this project, we did fall behind due to not balancing this project with other assignments at the time. This could be improved through more careful planning of writing and calculations. Additionally, I could have focused on this project rather than ones with a lower priority. This would help progress the more pressing matter rather than preparing for future projects that require less time at the moment.
This project focused on understanding the physics involved in an impact and the mathematical equations that accompanied a crash.
Death Thresholds: The values that will on average kill a human. We checked death thresholds of force and acceleration, using an acceleration of 640 m/s^2 and a force of 4,900 Newtons as our lethal thresholds.
Impulse(J) and Momentum(p): Momentum is the amount of motion an object has, or how hard an object is to stop(p=m*v). Impulse is defined as a change in momentum(J=F*Δt). As impulse is a change in momentum, these variables can be set equal to each other, represented by m*v=F*Δt. We used this equation to calculate the force of impact.
Newton's Second Law: The relationship between mass, acceleration, and force, represented by the equation F=m*a. We used this equation to calculate the acceleration a person would experience in a crash with and without a helmet.
Reflection:
Overall, this project went fairly well. The coordination between members of our group was particularly good. When one job needed to be done, we were able to shift jobs relatively quickly to continue working efficiently at the parts of this project that needed to be finished. My ability to research was also improved in this project. We needed to find specific numbers involving what accelerations and forces are lethal for the purpose of showing that our helmet can save a life. We were able to coordinate our research efforts and successfully find these numbers without spending much wasted time at dead ends during this research time.
Though it overall went well, there were certainly improvements that could be made. Our time management is one factor that could certainly improve. During this project, we did fall behind due to not balancing this project with other assignments at the time. This could be improved through more careful planning of writing and calculations. Additionally, I could have focused on this project rather than ones with a lower priority. This would help progress the more pressing matter rather than preparing for future projects that require less time at the moment.