Curated OER
Velocity of Traffic on Highway 26
Physics fanatics time five cars as they pass on the highway. They use the times and a 20-yard distance to calculate velocity. They also graph distance vs. time. A page of student pre-lab questions is provided in addition to the activity...
Kenan Fellows
Using Motion Sensors to Explore Graph Sketching
Get moving to a better understanding of graphs of derivatives. Using motion sensors, scholars vary their velocities to create graphs of the first derivative of a function. The activity challenges groups to first create a script of the...
Illustrative Mathematics
Velocity vs. Distance
At the end of this activity, your number crunchers will have a better understanding as to how to describe graphs of velocity versus time and distance versus time. It is easy for learners to misinterpret graphs of velocity, so have them...
Curated OER
Reading Graphs
Working independently or in teams, your class practices connecting graphs, formulas and words. This activity includes a guided discussion about distance vs. time graphs and looking at how velocity changes over time.
NASA
Ascent: 50 Seconds to MECO
All systems go! With a video and a Google Earth tour as background, pairs investigate two graphs. The graphs display acceleration vs. time and velocity vs. time of a space shuttle launch. Using graphing calculators, the pairs take a...
Curated OER
"Graphing Your Motion"
Students study the concepts of motion, velocity, and acceleration through graphing their own movement using LoggerPro. They explain the difference between speed and velocity using the weather vane example. They discover the difference...
Curated OER
Escape Velocity
Sixth graders create/use spreadsheets to solve real-world problems, explore patterns, make predictions, select/explain most appropriate types of graph to display data, use information to create product, and have basic understanding of...
Curated OER
Acceleration Lab
Young Einsteins experiment with the acceleration of Hot Wheels™ toy cars down inclined planes at various angles. This classic physics lab activity is thoroughly explained in both a teacher’s guide and a student lab sheet. Science...
Curated OER
Acceleration Science
In collaborative groups, physics learners design and create a web portfolio of internet resoucres explaining poitive and negative acceleration, zero acceleration, and positive and negative velocity. This is a terrific assignment for...
Curated OER
Speed
Fifth and sixth graders practice working in pairs to determine whether they can walk with constant speed. They test themselves, collect their data, draw graphs with their data collected, manipulate the data, and then draw conclusions...
Curated OER
Elevator Height as Integral of Velocity
Pupils investigate integrals and their relationship to velocity in this calculus instructional activity. They use the idea of a moving elevator to explore vertical motion and use the TI to help them create a visual.
Kenan Fellows
Man vs. Beast: Approximating Derivatives using Human and Animal Movement
What does dropping a ball look like as a graph? An engaging activity asks learners to record a video of dropping a ball and uploading the video to software for analysis. They compare the position of the ball to time and calculate the...
Kenan Fellows
Analyzing Speed from Different Modalities
Show us your moves. Using sensor equipment, scholars track the motion of different movements, such as jogging, skipping, or jump roping. They analyze velocity and acceleration and create graphs representing each movement.
Curated OER
Velocity vs. Time
Twelfth graders read and interpret v-t graphs. After studying velocity and time, 12th graders read graphs to calculate the acceleration of a moving body and determine the distance and displacement of a body. Students explore the...
Curated OER
Reading Graphs
Students practice plotting functions on the Cartesian coordinate plane, see several categories of functions, including lines and parabolas, and read a graph, answering questions about the situation described by the graph
Curated OER
Activity One Teacher Page: Vehicles In Motion
Students identify variables that affect the system, and specify which variables are independent and which are dependent.
Curated OER
Earthquake on the Playground
Students investigate earthquakes by examining chart data. In this disasters lesson, students identify the waves that are recorded when an earthquake arises by reading sample graphs in class. Students participate in an earthquake...
Curated OER
Investigating Velocity Effects at Takeoff
Students use, with increasing confidence, problem-solving approaches to investigate and explain mathematical content. They make and test conjectures. They use tables and graphs as tools to interpret expressions, equations, and inequalities.
Curated OER
Position and Piecewise Velocity
Young scholars solve piecewise functions. In this precalculus lesson, students model real life scenarios using velocity and piecewise. They create velocity graphs and find the beginning and end position of an object.
Curated OER
Aerospace Engineering
Twelfth graders examine the physics of rocket flight. They build and launch model rockets to measure their performances.
Curated OER
Velocity, Acceleration, and Gravity
Middle schoolers perform an experiment where a string is tied across the room. A straw is threaded onto the string, and a balloon attached to the straw. Students determine the speed of the balloon as it moves across the string. They...
Curated OER
Reading Graphs
Students plot functions on the Cartesian coordinate plane. They explore lines and parabolas. Students analyze graphs and answer questions about the information presented on the graph using an online program.
Curated OER
Motion
Sixth graders read about and study motion. They conduct a lab in which they calculate speed using track records at their school. They graph the results and then invite a guest speaker (an officer from the local police department) who...
Teach Engineering
Forms of Linear Equations
Linear equations are all about form. The fifth part in a unit of nine works with the different equivalent forms of linear equations. Class members become familiar with each form by identifying key aspects, graphing, and converting from...