Activities

How Fast Am I Moving?

Investigate the relationship between slope and velocity on a position-time graph.

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Requirements

Portions of this activity require a Vernier Go!Motion sensor, an inexpensive device that plugs into your USB port. To use the sensor computers must have Java installed. Otherwise, the activity runs entirely in a Web browser. Preferred browsers are: Google Chrome (versions 5 and above), Safari (versions 4 and above), Firefox (version 3.6.10 and above), and Internet Explorer (version 7, 8, or higher; note that version 6 or below does not work).

Learn to use the slope of a position-time graph to find the velocity. SmartGraphs software can lead you through the calculation of “rise” over “run.” How Fast Am I Moving is the third of five SmartGraphs activities designed for a typical physical science unit of study on the motion of objects. (The other four are: Maria’s Run; Motion Toward and Away; Describing Velocity; and, Was Galileo Right?)

» Lesson Plan and Student Assessment documents are also available.

Launch Activity

WARNING: Your data will not be saved. Please view the requirements below before launching this activity.

Requirements

Portions of this activity require a Vernier Go!Motion sensor, an inexpensive device that plugs into your USB port. To use the sensor computers must have Java installed. Otherwise, the activity runs entirely in a Web browser. Preferred browsers are: Google Chrome (versions 5 and above), Safari (versions 4 and above), Firefox (version 3.6.10 and above), and Internet Explorer (version 7, 8, or higher; note that version 6 or below does not work).

SmartGraphsThis activity is a part of the Concord Consortium's SmartGraphs project.

Grade Level
Middle School
Subject
Mathematics, Physics
Focus Area
Modeling and Simulation, Probeware