Concrete step barrier

High school (ages 12+)
Safety & Emergency

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/concrete-step-barrier

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary application?Central reservation of motorways and dual carriageways to prevent cross-over collisions
2. What is the material properties?High-strength reinforced concrete provides mass, stability, and impact resistance
3. Why do roads use concrete step barriers instead of steel guardrails?Concrete is heavier and stronger than steel guardrails, so it stays in place when a car hits it and doesn’t bend or break easily. This makes it more reliable and safer.
4. How does a concrete step barrier help keep cars safe?When a car hits the barrier, the angled step lifts the tires and gently pushes the car back into its lane while slowing it down slowly. This reduces the chance of a serious crash.

Central reservation: The physical separation between carriageways of a divided highway, typically containing a barrier or median.
Kinetic energy: The energy an object possesses due to its motion.
Impact attenuation: The process of reducing the force of a collision, often through deformation or energy absorption.