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Forces and Motion Science Fair Project

Shock Absorber Experiment

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Shock Absorber Experiment | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
Let's explore how the size and number of holes in a shock absorber affects the time it takes for the piston to compress.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that the time that it takes for the piston to compress single and multiple holes will be very close if the total surface area is kept constant throughout all the tests.

Method & Materials

You will need to dismount the shock absorber, drill out disks from plywood, drill holes in the disks, attach the disks to the shock absorber, and place the shock absorber in a vise grip.
You will need a Fox shock absorber, a 3.81 cm hole saw drill bit, a 0.9525 cm drill bit, an electric drill, birch plywood, a stop watch, a vise grip, a lid to a 35mm film canister, cooking oil, an X-Acto hobby knife, a tube of epoxy, a paint brush, 1.59 mm, 2.78 mm, 3.18 mm, 3.97 mm, 4.37 mm, 5.95 mm, and 6.35 mm drill bits, a 202.4 gram weight, and a 3.1 cm hole saw drill bit.

Results

The results of the experiment indicate that the larger the holes are the less amount of damping takes place and the smaller the holes are the greater amount of damping takes place. It also doesn't matter if there are fewer or more holes in the damper because the compression time is too close to matter in a simple shock absorber.

Why do this project?

This science project is interesting and unique because it explores how the size and number of holes in a shock absorber affects the time it takes for the piston to compress, which can help car designers ensure a much safer and smoother ride.

Also Consider

Experiment variations to consider include testing different weights on the shock absorber and testing different types of shock absorbers.

Full project details

You can find additional information and details for this science fair project here. Have fun exploring!

Related video

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