Using a "slow fall" of an object down an inclined plane, Galileo was able to study the behavior of falling bodies. When discussing the difficulty in making measurements as the car falls, you may wish to introduce the idea that around 1600, the Italian mathematician Galileo Galilei was faced with the same dilemma when he wanted to study the behavior of falling objects. Perform the demonstration in the Engagement section of the Student Activity sheet. Small cup of water with food coloring added.Small toy car with dropper attached (prepared in advance).Narrow adding machine tape (1 5/8 inch).Narrow track made from one of the following: 2 - 4 meter sticks depending on the length of the ramp Darda or Hot Wheels car track.Small toy car such as Matchbox or Hot Wheels - one per group (a toy truck with a flat bed or a van works best for attaching the dropper). Plastic pipette, thin stem - one per group.Participants will develop and simple lesson implementation plan for their own classrooms based upon changes in motion caused by forces.Participants will be able to compute the acceleration of the car by finding the slope of the best fit line on a velocity vs.time graph as representing a change in velocity (acceleration). Participants will interpret the curved line on a distance vs.Participants will collect data and construct graphs representing the motion of a toy car on an inclined plane.Participants will identify the unbalanced force causing the motion of a toy car on an inclined plane.Analysis of the graphs leads participants to the conclusion that the car was increasing in velocity, or accelerating, down the ramp. The pattern of drops can be used for data collection and graphs representing the motion of the car drawn. The changing distances between the successive drops indicate that the car was not traveling at a constant speed. Participants will observe the pattern of water drops left by the moving car. Motion of a car traveling along an inclined plane is investigated. Printer Friendly Version The Downhill Racer - Forces and Motion Return to the Professional Development Module Index
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