WEEK 2

Class 1: Speed Lab Practice

Today we will have a lab practice about speed. For this, the group will be divided into teams and using a ramp, a measuring tape, a timer and a marble we will calculate different speeds using the ramp:

Now that we understand speed and the relationship between distance and time, we will learn how to use this information in a graph.

We will practice these two skills: how to draw a graph representing the speed of an object or person in different moments and how to interpret a graph with this information.

Imagine a car that travels 60 meters in

4 seconds. We can graph this information

by using a simple graph that contains 2

axis: time and distance. Since the distance

depends on the time, time will go in the X

axis (independent variable) and the

distance must go in the Y axis:

Look at the graph and try to work out

how long it takes for the car to travel

45 meters.

Let's solve the following exercises to understand in a deeper way how these graphs work:

1) Complete the table showing how far and how long did it take for the cyclist to move from one place to another:

A)

B) Calculate the speed in each section (S = D/T)

C) Compare the slowest speed with its line in the graph. Compare the fastest speed and its line in the graph. What can we say about the relationship between the slope of the line and the speed?

2. Draw a Distance/Time graph with the following information:

Zack left home walking slowly. After 10 minutes

he had walked 100m. Then he met a friend.

They stood and talked for 5 minutes. Then he

realized he might be late, so he ran the next

200m to the bus station (this took 5 min)

and waited there for 10 minutes. Then he took

the bus and arrived at his office which was at

a distance of 700m in 10 minutes.

(Clue: your chart should have 40 minutes and 1000 meters, this way you will have plenty of space to graph the information)

3. Calculate the speed in each section of your graph, remember to show your work.