Acceleration+Lab

Acceleration
Measure acceleration and use this measurement to answer a question that you develop. Answer your question using the scientific method and communicate your results with a group poster. (Materials immediately on hand are two different sized ball bearings, a ramp, a meterstick, and a stopwatch.)

STEP 1 Focus Prompt:

Momentarily we were stationary and then we screamed. [] Changes in motion can be described by more than screams. [] Acceleration doesn't require ramps and track. []

Changes or differences in motion can be measured. Changes or differences in motion can be graphed. Related material from earlier this year: Cannonball Drop

[]

(Textbook pages 343 & 353)

Step 2: Students Produce Questions 1. Ask as many questions as you can. 2. Do not stop to discuss, judge, or answer any of the questions. 3. Write down every question exactly as it was stated. 4. Change any statements into questions.

Step 3: Improve your Questions Change closed questions to open questions. Closed questions can be answered by just a few words. Open questions questions can only be answered by lists, essays, or research. Closed question: Do crickets chirp more when its hot? Open question: How does temperature affect cricket chirping? Change to an open question: Are the leaves changing color? Change to a closed question: How exactly does one replace the screen to a cellular phone? []

Step 4: Prioritize Your Questions Choose three testable questions from your list. The subject of testable questions can be observed and measured. From these questions form/write a hypothesis with a manipulated and responding variable.

Step 5: Use your question/hypothesis
 * Design an experiment with controlled parameters to test your hypothesis. Write instructions on how to do your experiment.
 * Measure and record data.
 * Interpret your data
 * Draw conclusions
 * Communicate your results. (Group Poster)

Step 6: Students Reflect on What They Have Learned. The teacher reviews the steps and provides students with an opportunity to review what they have learned by producing, improving, and prioritizing their questions.

More specifically, address the following: __ Pose Questions __ : How might acceleration of a marble differ on ramps with different slopes? __ Hypothesis __ : Explain what acceleration is and predict the relationship between the manipulated and responding variables. __ Design an Experiment __ : Step by step, tell how you will test your prediction in a way so others could repeat it. Draw your setup with dimensions. Include the slopes for the two ramps you setup and how you calculated it. (0 to 5pts) __ Collecting and Interpreting Data __ : Explain what the acceleration of the marble down a ramp looks like. Explain how your measurements support this observation. Put your data in a table. Show your acceleration calculations. (0 to 8pts) __ Drawing Conclusions __ : Tell how your results relate to your hypothesis. (0 to 3pts)
 * Acceleration Lab **

Help Tables Acceleration

One step at a time page

Basic Questions