Forest PHYS100 Demos Week2
Demo 1: Constant Velocity
To begin this demonstration I will as the students what the definition of average velocity is as a review. They can say change in position over change in velocity or the slope on the position vs. time graph. I will then release the cart from the spring and ask them about the behavior of the system. There will be very minor deceleration from friction, but not much. I will then ask them to graph the points that I provide from the PASCO setup and tell them to calculate the velocity of the cart. After that I will say ask them about the acceleration of the system. Since the velocity vs. time graph has a slope of (essentially) zero, the acceleration will also be (essentially) zero.
Demo 2: Constant Acceleration
I will now ask the students what the definition of average acceleration is. I will accept change in velocity over the change in time and the slope of the velocity vs. time graph. I will drop the cart from the incline, graph the position vs. time data points, and give them data points for the velocity vs. time graph for them to create on their own. I will then ask them to find the acceleration of the system. I will then proceed to ask them multiple questions about the acceleration itself. Does our answer make sense? Why or why not? What would happen if I increased the angle of the incline?
Demo 3: Non-constant acceleration
For this I will give them the graphs for the position and the velocity vs. time that have been created before the class. Then I will give them the data for the acceleration vs. time graph and simply ask them what happened during the motion of the cart and what could have caused it. When someone gives the correct answer I will then send the cart down the track and point out the parts where the cart had a negative acceleration due to the toilet paper on the track.