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Gold Seal Lesson:
Acceleration Due
To Gravity
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Copernicus
Education Gateway
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Subject:
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Science
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Grade:
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9-12
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ICLE Standards:
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Mathematics: Represent situations that include
variable quantities with expression, equations, inequalities, and matrices.
Science: Develop the abilities of scientific
inquiry. Develop an understanding of forces and motion.
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Performance Task:
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Anthony was sitting home late one night after
studying for a major physics test. Before going to bed, he decided to flip
through the television channels to see what was showing. He stopped on the
David Letterman Show. David was doing a skit on dropping objects off a
building to see what they look like after they hit the ground. While
watching this silly but amusing skit, Anthony wondered how fast the objects
were traveling when they hit the ground, how far they dropped, and do all
the different sized objects fall at the same rate?
When you complete this activity, you should be able to help Anthony answer
these questions.
Materials Needed: Stop watch and several small objects such as: a golf
ball, a tomato, a tennis ball, a cantaloupe, a watermelon, or a chicken
egg.
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Decide with your partner who will go to the top of the building or tall
structure to drop the objects and who will remain on the ground as the
timekeeper. One person will drop each object while the partner on the
ground measures the amount of time it takes for each object to fall to the
ground. The time (T) will be recorded in seconds.
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Using the formula vf = no + gt, where vo = the initial velocity and g =
the acceleration of gravity = 9.8 meters/second2, find the vf, the final
velocity of each object.
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Using the formula d = 1/2 gt2, find the distance each object fell, or
the height of the building or tall structure from which the objects were
dropped.
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Acceleration is defined as the rate of change in velocity with respect
to the change in time. Using the data collected in this activity, verify
that g, the rate of acceleration due to gravity, is equal to 9.8 m/sec2.
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In your science lab notebook, write a brief summary of this activity.
State any conclusions that you can make. Also state how this knowledge can
be applied in a practical real-world situation.
Note to the teacher: This activity provides an opportunity to apply
mathematical knowledge to a scientific inquiry in physics. Students will
work in pairs to compare the speed of different sized objects dropped from a
building or tall object (e.g., a ladder). Students will find the velocity
of a falling object using the formula vf = vo + gt, where g = 9.8
meters/second2 and the distance fallen by the object using the formula d =
1/2gt2. As a result of this activity, students should have an understanding
of the principle of acceleration of an object during free fall due to
gravitational pull.
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Knowledge / Skills:
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Know and apply the principles of scientific
inquiry. (s114)
Understand and apply kinematics (i.e., the
mathematical methods of describing motion without regard to the forces that
produce it, such as velocity, acceleration and deceleration, and
displacement). (s77)
Understand and apply statics (i.e., the relation
between forces acting on an object at rest) and dynamics (i.e., the relation
between the forces acting on an object and the resulting motion). (s84)
Perform operations with signed (positive and
negative) numbers, including decimals, ratios, percents, and
fractions. (m1)
Understand the use of variables in expressions
such as 4x, x+2, and 2x-1, solve for the variable, and know how to
represent expressions such as "twice the number" or "four
more than the number" using variables. (m7)
Know the survival requirements of the human
population and the history and implications of population growth. (s40)
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Rubric:
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3 Points =
The student works cooperative to drop the objects and measures the
time required for the objects to reach the ground accurately. The student
manipulates formulas to find the speed and distance for each object. The
student is able to verify the value of g, the rate of acceleration due to
gravity. The summary report shows that the student has a thorough
understanding of the concepts of mass, velocity, and acceleration. The
student is able to make at least one conclusion and is able to state how
the concepts could be applied to a practical situation.
2 Points = The student works cooperatively to drop
the objects and measures the time required for the objects to reach the
ground, but has difficulty doing this with accuracy. The student needs some
coaching in manipulating the formulas to find the speed and distance for
each object and verifying the value of g. The summary report shows that the
student has a fair understanding of the concepts of mass, velocity, and
acceleration. The student has difficulty stating a conclusion and stating
how the concepts could be applied to a practical situation.
1 Point = The student has trouble working cooperatively to perform the
task and does not complete the task. The data have inaccuracies, causing
problems with the remainder of the task. The written report is vague and
demonstrates little, if any, understanding of the concepts of mass,
velocity, and acceleration. The student does not attempt to verify the
value of g. The student does not draw any conclusion and can not apply the
concepts to a practical situation.
0 Points = The student is uncooperative with
his/her partner on the task and makes little attempt to complete the task.
Any data collected are grossly inaccurate. The student is unable to work
with the formulas and show virtually no understanding of the concepts. No
meaningful report is written. The student does not draw a conclusion nor
apply the concepts to a practical situation
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Keywords:
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PHYSICS
GRAVITY
MATTER
MOTION
NEWTON'S LAW
COMPUTATION
INFERENCE
ALGEBRAIC OPERATIONS
TECHNICAL WRITING
EARTH SCIENCE
SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY
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Grades:
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Kg [] - 1 [] - 2 [] - 3 [] - 4 [] - 5 [] - 6 [] - 7 [] - 8 [] - 9 [X]
- 10 [X] - 11 [X] - 12 [X]
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ICLE Application:
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D
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© 2000 International
Center for Leadership in Education
1587 Route 146 - Rexford - NY - 12148
518.399.2776 Fax: 518.399.7607
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