Forces and Motion: Investigating a Car Crash

Gr 5–7—Each of these multipurpose volumes opens with an example of a generic accident or incident, then goes on to present evidence gathered by investigators-with explanations of the scientific principles and procedures employed to understand it-and invitations to readers to sift the clues, make the calculations, and draw conclusions for themselves. Car Crash, for example, outlines how discovering the causes of an accident involves not only observing tire marks, vehicle positions, weather factors, and the like, but also knowing Newton's laws of motion, studying the effects of pressure on metals, and calculating velocities and directions. "You're the Investigator!" text boxes encourage critical-thinking skills, while others supply additional facts. Every volume includes photos, charts, and a low-tech project.