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ANALYZING VELOCITY AND CHANGES IN MOTION OF TWO MODELS OF SPEEDBOATS IN DIFFERENT CONTEXTS TO SEE WHICH ONE IS BETTER

Colegio Gimnasio Vermont Medellín

STAGE 1

STAGE 2

Science

Seven A (7A)

By

Sebastián Vergara

Medellín, Antioquia

April, 2013

ANALYZING VELOCITY AND CHANGES IN MOTION OF TWO MODELS OF SPEEDBOATS IN DIFFERENT CONTEXTS TO SEE WHICH ONE IS BETTER

Introduction….

Theoretical Background

Click the link to follow the activities step by step: http://my.hrw.com/sh2/sh07_10/student/flash/virtual_investigations/hst/mot/hst_mot_vi.html

Motion:

Everything surrounding us is moving. To detect the motion you need a Reference Point (something that appears to be quiet). When an object changes position over time relative to a reference point, the object is in motion and you can describe the direction of the object´s motion with a reference direction such as north, south, etc.

Speed:

Any time that you move, you get a distance traveled in relation to the time, that is called speed, but if you don´t move, speed is happening and it is equal to 0.

Most of the time, objects do not travel at a constant speed.

Speed could be calculated following the equation:

<!--[if !msEquation]--> <!--[endif]-->Velocity:

Is the speed of an object in a particular direction. The terms speed and velocity do not have the same meaning. Velocity must include a reference direction.

Acceleration:

Acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes. Velocity changes if speed changes, if direction changes, or if both change. So, an object accelerates if its speed, its direction, or both change.

An increase in velocity is commonly called positive acceleration. A decrease in velocity is commonly called negative acceleration, or deceleration.

You can find average acceleration by using the equation:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.      <!--[endif]-->Objectives

STAGE 1:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->a)      <!--[endif]-->Analyze a new design for a speedboat.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->b)      <!--[endif]-->Evaluate the speedboat design.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->c)      <!--[endif]-->Make some calculations evaluating the speed and acceleration from the speedboats.

STAGE 2:                                                                                                                                  a)   a) Analyze the acceleration of the speedboats in both currents of a river (upstream and downstream)                                                                                                                                              b)   Identify the data of the boats to fill the chart.                                                                        c)   Decide which boat is better based on all these information and the fuel consumption.

Materials and Reactives

VIRTUAL (BOTH STAGES) 2 models of boats, one old and the other one new. Timer Calculator Fuel PHYSICAL (BOTH STAGES) Computer Paper and Pen to take notes (optional)

Procedure

STAGE 1:

Move the speedboats from Point A to Point B.

Calculate the average acceleration between one point and other.

Record your answer filling the data chart.

Decide which model has the higher average acceleration.

STAGE 2:
 

Click Start to begin the race in downstream.

Click on Gear 2 approaching Point A to change speed.

Click on Gear 3 approaching Point B to change speed.

Fill the chart with your data and calculations.

Repeat the steps 1-4 with upstream direction.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.      <!--[endif]-->Observations and Results

TRY YOU THE EXPERIMENT!: http://my.hrw.com/sh2/sh07_10/student/flash/virtual_investigations/hst/mot/hst_mot_vi.html

<!--[if !supportLists]-->5.      <!--[endif]-->Conclusions

<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.      <!--[endif]-->  The more speed you have, the more acceleration will result, the less time you have, the less acceleration will result.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.      <!--[endif]-->The new speedboat has the more acceleration.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.      <!--[endif]-->A speedboat goes faster downstream.