February 10, 2003
This workshop is designed to give you a practical experience for most of the equations, readings we have covered. You will be asked to work in groups of 3 or 4. This workshop has several ‘stations’. At each station you will be asked to perform a skill, and collect data. Please take a few minutes at the end of each station to discuss results and calculate whatever is asked for. Feel free to use books, calculators, etc. to complete this workshop. After you have completed the 3 stations, please return to the room, we will share /discuss results as a class.
Station 1 – elevator ride: take a scale, and find an elevator. Predict what will happen to your weight when you ride up. Predict what will happen to your weight when you ride down. Now – get in the elevator, put the scale down, and stand on it. Notice weight, and record. Choose a direction, and ride the elevator to the last floor possible – watching the scale. Describe when the scale changes. Repeat in opposite direction. Explain what happened using Newton’s laws, and correct terminology.
Station 2 – jumping: one person will jump, another will time the jump using a stopwatch, a third will measure the height of the jump. Begin by weighing the person who is jumping. Start the jump with the arm extended, bend knees and jump. The person measuring height should silently record, and not reveal the height until the indicated by directions. Using the time [and the equation distance = ½ gravity x time2], predict the height attained. Double check with actual height recorded. Try again with a running jump, and discuss how horizontal velocity impacted the height of the jump. Repeat with a different ‘jumper’. Calculate which jumper was more powerful. [P = U/t]
Station 3 – running speed: Predict what your average running speed is. Using the tape measure outside, have one person run 100 feet, while two people time the runner, one at 50 feet and the other at 100 feet. Using the correct equation, calculate the average speed over the distance. Can you calculate acceleration? How closely did the runner predict their average speed?