Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi, my name is Sheng and I am from Canada. Currently in grade 11, and enrolled in the IB program. As a part of the IB requirement, we have to finish this GroupIV project before February. This project has to include biology, chemistry, physics and some other science topic. It's supposed to be a "MEGA PROJECT!!!" lol....

I am really in to cars, and as one of the suggested topic by IB, I would love to do some research on automobile seats. I have little idea of how I am gonna do this; it would be greatly appreciated if the experts are able to help me on this.

I would like to do some research on the shape of the seat and the reaction of the body, and the materials used, and pressure distribution.... and more

If anyone knows anybody who works in the material engineering or other fields that are related to this project, please tell me. THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH!!!!!

Hi Sheng,

I like you idea but my concern is you should not have too many variables to test. It's much better to isolate one variable e.g. the material and do an experiment based on that. If you have several variables, then your experiments can get rather complex as you need to worry about a combination (in the mathematical sense) of all the variables involved. For example, you can do an experiment on which material (of a certain shape and dimension) would absorb impact coming from a pointed object at a certain speed the best and explain what characteristics/aspects about the material make it the winner in this case. You can look at the molecular structure of the material for instance.

But first, you must decide on a plan about what specifically you want to experiment with for your project.

Shijun
Science Buddies Staff

sheng_utopia,

I agree with Shijun. You need to narrow down your invesitgation to testing one specific variable. You can then measure the effects of that variable on the body, research the physics behind the movements that occur, and chemistry behind the molecular structure of the material that composes the variable, possiblly relating its chemcal bonding patterns to its effects on the physics of car collisons.

Where/how are you planning to simulate the effects of car crashes on the human body? You will not be able to use real people in this experiment, and crash test dummies are really expensive. Consider these factors before you decide to follow through on this investigation.

Good Luck, and Congrats on being in the IB program!

Thank you all so much for the suggestions.

I went to consult my chemistry teacher today, and my question was whether we could borrow data from other sources. As Terik mentioned, crash testing is way too expensive, and would not be accessible by a high school student. My chemistry teacher mentioned the same thing.

I am really confused. When I mentioned the automobile seat project, the first thing my teacher asked me was about the crash test. Is that the only thing I could do with the seat? What I originally wanted to do was to find out how a better seat can improve everyday driving. I wanted to find out, during acceleration and deceleration, during a turn, etc., how pressure was distributed. By testing using a few different materials, or even placing different materials for different places, how we can make driving more pleasurable. I am not saying that we test all of these variables at once, just that I may be able to test these variables in separate experiments.

I wanted to contact Sparco, the racing seats manufacturer for some information relating to my project. But I am not sure what I should say to them. I don’t think they would give out any technological information. Once again, thank you all so much for your suggestions.

By any chance, would any of you know anyone who works in the material engineering field?

THANK YOU SO MUCH

sheng_utopia,

Lets try to "deconfuse" you. You want to investigate how the pressure is distributed in the car of a seat while driving, correct? I would reccomend first taking prelimenary measurements of the pressure created by an object sitting in a stationary vehicle. Then, I would measure how the presssures exerted change as the car (and therefore seat) move.

The best way to contact a company or researcher is to first e-mail them. If you do not get a reply, call them! This is very important. Also, talk your project up. If you are preparing a project to win some international award, say so. What you do not want to say is "I'm doing a science fair project." Make it sound interesting.

I know a few material scientists who work for IBM. I will find out their e-mail addresses and give them to you.

Good Luck!

You are my hero
thx, i will contact them as soon as possible.
:>:>

sheng_utopia,

Beneath is the e-mail address for Mr. Tom Zimmerman. He works in the research division of IBM, and loves helping students with science projects. (I know that you are doing IB research, but it is essentailly the same.) Although he is not a materials scientist, he knows over 4000 professors and reserachers. Tell him what you are doing, and what kind of a person you would like to be put in contact with. His e-mail is.

THANK YOU SO SO SO SO MUCH
without your help, i wouldn't be able to even start on this lab.

THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!