Are You Speeding PASCO SPARK

For this lab we are using one of the labs that are pre-loaded on SPARK. The directions for this lab will be directions on how to follow the links on the SPARK.

Turn the SPARK unit on by pressing the black button on the bottom of the unit. After it has powered on, press the Open button – choose Middle School Science and select Are You Speeding and press OK.

At the top left of the screen you will find a page number with an arrow to the right (this will take you to the next page. Press the arrow in order to move on to the next page of this lab.

Complete all questions in your lab notebook:

Page 3: Problem: What is speed and how is it related to velocity? Page 4: Using the information on page 4, work as a group to come up with a definition for velocity? Page 7: Q1 – Draw a line on the graph to predict the slope for a person walking at a slow pace. Page 8: Q2 – Draw a line on the graph to predict the slope for a person walking at a quick pace. Page 9: Q3 – Draw a two lines on the graph to predict the slopes of both people walking – both travelling the same distance but one person finishing in less time.

Page 7 Page 8 Page 9

Page 10: Follow the instructions to complete the lab Page 11 & 12: The SPARK will graph your data…copy that graph here and be sure to label your axis. Page 13: Q4: It is important to walk the same distance because ... Page 14: Q5: I notice on the position versus time graph that … Page 15: Follow the instructions to complete the second part of the lab Page 16 & 17: The SPARK will graph your data…copy that graph and data here (label your axis).

______meters

Velocity = ______

Page 16 Page 17 Page 18: Q6: I notice these patterns on the different graphs… (shows both graphs on page 19) Page 20: Q7: My predictions compared to the actual results… (compare to your Q1, Q2 and Q3) Page 22: Q8: The speed was … (calculate for walker moving away from sensor – using the graph) Page 23: Q9: The speed was … (calculate for walker moving toward the sensor – using the graph) Page 24: Q10: The steepness of the graph changed when … Page 25: Q 11: The speed is zero when … Page 26: Q12: You can tell the direction the walker is walking on the position graph because … Page 27: Q13: The velocity was zero when … (shows both graphs on page 28) Page 29: Q14: You can tell the direction the walker is walking on the velocity graph because … Page 30: Q15: The difference between a velocity of 0.5m/s and -0.5m/s is … Page 31: Q16: Speed is related to velocity as follows …

Extension: Describe the motion of the object in the graph below. Use terms related to speed and velocity such as faster, slower, turned.