Laboratory three in SC 130 Physical Science investigated whether there is a quadratic (parabolic) relationship between the time and distance for a ball falling to the ground. The laboratory also sought to determine the value of the acceleration of gravity g?
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Roselynn Beelyaw, Leah Torwan |
This laboratory used to build on two earlier activities that during a
regular school term usually occur on Monday and Wednesday respectively.
The first activity was a plot of time versus distance for an
accelerating RipStik. Based on the RipStik activity, there was a
non-linear relationship (curved line) between time and distance for the
accelerating RipStik. In the second activity, the arc of a ball
activity, the students explore whether the trajectory of a ball might be
related to a parabola. A quadratic equation is presented as the
underlying mathematical relationship. The students graph their data and
the equation to explore whether the ball arc and the equation are
related. These two activities built to this laboratory where the
specific mathematical relationship nature of time versus distance for a
falling ball is measured. Put more simply, if a jacks ball falls twice
as far, by what factor does the time increase?
Since fall 2014 I have continued to develop the
RipStik arc activity on Monday.
I now use Wednesday to more carefully deconstruct the calculation of
velocity and acceleration from segments of the Monday activity, which is
now a deceleration run that generates the parabola which the ball arc
used to generate. The link of the RipStik to the ball arc did not exist
except for those who have had physics and "see" the underlying quadratic
relationship in each.
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Vancyleen Wichep and Natasha Edwin |
This structure permits what feels like a more logical introduction from acceleration from the demonstration on Monday.
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Jerisse Salvador waiting for the super ball |
By the end of the period on the Wednesday the formulas for Thursday have been introduced.
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Lynnsey Sigrah, Arnold Tawerilfeg |
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Lynnsey, Jeanie Gabriel |
Board shots
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Beverly Billy waits for the super ball to fall from 400 or 500 cm |
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