Racer: Operates the Buggy

Name: Kelly DeNu Contact Info: Date:01-Jul-13 [email protected]

Lesson Title: System of Equations Using Constant Velocity Unit #: Lesson #: Activity #: Worksheet: Buggies 1 1 1 a Activity Title: Car Crash Worksheet Title: Car Crash Data

1 Name:______Period:______

“Car Crash” Data Sheet

This activity will explore how to predict where and when two cars will crash into each other based on data you will be collecting in your groups. To begin the activity, assign roles to all the members of your group:

Racer: Operates the buggy Timer: Runs the stopwatch Spotter: Measures the distance traveled Recorder: Logs data on the activity sheet

1. Collect data to determine the velocity 2. Create a scatter plot of the data you collected. Determine which (or speed) in units/second for your axis represents time and which axis represents distance. car/buggy. Race your car for the lengths Remember, the x-axis is the independent variable and the y-axis is of time indicated in the table. After the the dependent variable. Your scatter plot should include an given number of seconds has elapsed, appropriate measure and record the distance traveled title and labeled in the second row of the table. Notice axes. Car A’s line you will be racing for each time interval = Red Car B’s line twice. This is to ensure an accurate = Blue calculation of velocity. Car A starts at 0 and car B will be given a 100 cm head start.

3. Your data should show an approximate linear relationship between time and distance. Draw a single line that passes through or near all the points on your graph. It may help to use a ruler. This line

2 is called the “line of fit.” Note: This line may pass through some of the points, none of the points, or all of the points.

4. At what point would you estimate the two cars colliding? (Solution)

5. Write an equation for each car using the slope (speed of car) and the y-intercept (starting point of car). For slope, choose two points and calculate the change in y over the change in x. Show work below:

Equation What is the slope and What is the y-intercept what does it represent? and what does it represent? Car A

6. Race Time!

 Race your cars on the same “track.”

 Determine a starting point which will represent 0 centimeters. This is where Car A will start. Car B (the slower car) will get a 100 cm head start (so place the car 100 cm ahead of Car A).

 The “spotter” needs to get his/her eyes ready to view at which point the cars collide/catch up to each other.

 Timer – make sure you have your stop watch ready so you can record the seconds that it took to collide.

7. Reflection:

3  After how many seconds did the cars collide?______

 What was the distance?______

 Is this where (or close to where) you predicted (solution) the collision would happen? If not, what could have been a variable contributing to this?

8. Solving Systems of Equations Algebraically:

 Using your two equations solve the system of equations algebraically. What does each value represent?