Abstract
Students learn about motion and graphs by walking toward and away from a sonic ranger while observing plots of position, velocity, and acceleration.
Portable
Yes
Principles Illustrated
Relationships between position, velocity, and acceleration versus time. Many experiments are possible!
NCEA & Science Curriculum
SCI 1.1, PHYS 2.4
Instructions
Set up the motion detector and data logger and have students walk back and forth in front of the motion detector, displaying their position, velocity, and acceleration versus time in live mode. If a data projector is available the entire class can watch.
Ask students to match particular graphs of position, velocity, or acceleration versus time.
Here is a PowerPoint with some position and velocity graphs that students can try to match: PosVelMatch.ppt. Can also be used as a worksheet.
Safety
Individual teachers are responsible for safety in their own classes. Even familiar demonstrations should be practised and safety-checked by individual teachers before they are used in a classroom.
Related Resources
Teaching Resources
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Reference
PIRA 1D15.10
Credits
This teaching resource was developed with support from
The MacDiarmid Institute
Faculty of Science, Victoria University of Wellington
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington