Position, Velocity and Acceleration
Object motion graphs.Copyright 2007 Pieter Kuiper, Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1-D_kinematics.svg
Students observe four different classroom setups with objects in motion (using toy cars, a ball on an incline, and a dynamics cart). At the first observation of each scenario, students sketch predicted position vs. time and velocity vs. time graphs. Then the classroom scenarios are conducted again with a motion detector and accompanying tools to produce position vs. time and velocity vs. time graphs for each scenario. Students compare their predictions with the graphs generated by technology and discuss their findings. This lesson requires assorted classroom supplies, as well as motion detector technology.
Many types of engineers, such as systems engineers, structural engineers and civil engineers, carefully observe and analyze systems to determine what causes them to behave as they do. They examine how systems work and make predictive models of them. In this lesson, students observe systems and make predictions about what they see, just like real engineers do. Doing this serves as a hands-on application of aspects of the engineering design process, the steps when needs are identified and research is conducted.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Define position and velocity.
- Identify the relationships between position and velocity.
- Observe a system and make predictions about what they see, just like real engineers do.