Playing CrashPals together 🚂
CrashPals is a crash lab for ages 6–8. Two carts roll toward each other and clink together like train cars — and before the bump, your child guesses which way the pair will roll. The big idea: the cart with more oomph decides which way, and oomph is how big × how fast. (Scientists call it momentum. We avoid the word “push” for it, because a push is a force, which is a different idea.)
1 · Look at the carts
Each cart shows how big it is (its blocks) and how fast it's going (its arrows — or "still" if it isn't moving). Ask: "which one do you think has more oomph?"
2 · Guess before the bump
Pick roll left, stop, or roll right. There's no penalty for a wrong guess — guessing first is exactly what helps the idea stick. Then tap Watch the bump!
3 · Talk about the oomph
After the bump, each cart shows its oomph number (blocks × speed). Count them together: the bigger number wins the direction; two equal numbers cancel and the carts stop. A little fast cart (oomph 2) can beat a big slow one (oomph… let's count!).
What it teaches
- Force & motion: a moving thing pushes a still thing along.
- Momentum, gently: "oomph = how big × how fast" — mass and speed both matter.
- Predict-then-observe: the science habit of guessing, then checking.
We make no claim CrashPals raises test scores — it's an honest little physics lab. It runs entirely on your device: no account, no sign-in, nothing leaves your browser.