Activity Detail
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Crawling Around: Parametric Plots
 


Activity Overview

In this activity, students' will record the x- and y-coordinates of a rod moving in a figure-eight pattern. They will then use the recorded motion information to separately model the x- and y-motion as a function of time. They will plot the experimental data in a y versus x graph and the x- and y-models parametrically for comparison to the experimental data.

Before the Activity

  • Set up the motion detectors along the lines of symmetry of figure-eight
  • Connect the motion detectors to the DIG/SONIC port of each of the CBL 2™ or the DIG/SONIC 1 and DIG/SONIC 2 ports of the Vernier LabPro®
  • Connect the CBL 2 or LabPro to the calculator using the Unit-to-Unit cable
  • Make a note of which detector will collect x-data and which one will gather y-data
  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 227 - 234 from the attached PDF file for your class

    		•

    		During the Activity

    		Distribute the pages to your class.

    Follow the Activity procedures:
  • Move the rod along the figure-eight pattern and observe the distance versus time graph on the calculator
  • Graph x- versus time and y- versus time data, and fit a sine curve to the data
  • Graph the data of the y-detector versus the data of the x-detector and superimpose the sine models on the y versus x plot
  • Evaluate the quality of the parametric sine model for the motion data

    		After the Activity

    		Students will complete the Data Collection and Analysis Sheet and answer questions listed in it.

    Review student results
  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary

    		Other Downloads




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    Subject Area:
    Math : Algebra I : Linear Equations and Functions

    Author:
    Texas Instruments

    Level:
    9-12

    Activity Time:
    60 Minutes

    Device:
    TI-73 Explorer™, TI-83 Plus Family, TI-84 Plus Family

    Apps:
    DataMate, EasyData™

    Software:
    TI Connect™

    Accessories:
    CBL™/CBL 2™, Sensor - Motion Detector, TI Connectivity Cable, TI-GRAPH LINK™ Cable, Unit-to-Unit link cables, Vernier LabPro®

    Other:
    This is Activity 23 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
    Real-World Math Made Easy.

    The following materials are required for this activity :

  • Meter stick
  • Masking tape
  • Plastic rod


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