Falling for Gravity

Students will investigate the motion of three objects of different masses undergoing free fall. Additionally, students will:

  • Use spark timers to collect displacement and time data.
  • Use this data to calculate the average velocity for the object during each interval.
  • Graph this data on a velocity versus time graph, V-t. They find the slope of this graph to calculate acceleration.
  • Calculate the falling object's acceleration from their data table and graph this data on an acceleration versus time graph, a-t.
  • Use their Spark timer data paper, cut it into intervals, and paste these intervals into their displacement versus time graph.
Resource ID#: 51224 Type: Lesson Plan
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General Information

Subject(s): Mathematics, Science
Grade Level(s): 11, 12
Intended Audience: Educators educators
Suggested Technology: Probes for Data Collection
Instructional Time: 3 Hour(s)
Keywords: free fall, constant acceleration, spark timer, gravity, graphing, motion
Instructional Component Type(s): Lesson Plan
Instructional Design Framework(s): Guided Inquiry (Level 3)
Resource Collection: CPALMS Lesson Plan Development Initiative

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