Activity Detail
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Spring Thing: Newton's Second Law
 


Activity Overview

In this activity, students' use a force sensor and a motion detector to collect force and acceleration data for an object moving up and down hanging from a spring. They use the data to test Newton's second law, and to estimate the mass of an object.

Before the Activity

  • Connect the force sensor to Channel 1 on the CBL 2™ or Vernier LabPro®
  • Connect the motion detector to the DIG/SONIC port of the CBL 2 or the DIG/SONIC 1 port of the LabPro
  • Connect the CBL 2 or LabPro to the calculator using the Unit-to-Unit cable
  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 69 - 76 from the attached PDF file for your class

    		•

    		During the Activity

    		Distribute the pages to your class.

    Follow the Activity procedures:
  • Attach the force sensor to the ring stand and suspend the bob and slinky 1 m above the motion detector
  • Zero the force sensor, lift the bob by 10 cm and release it
  • Record the distance, velocity, acceleration, and force data
  • Examine distance, force, velocity, and acceleration versus time graphs and fill in the Data Sheet
  • Fit a linear equation model to the force versus acceleration data

    		After the Activity

    		Students' will complete the Data Collection and Analysis Sheet and answer the 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 - Dual Range Force, Sensor - Motion Detector, TI Connectivity Cable, Unit-to-Unit link cables, Vernier LabPro®

    Other:
    This is Activity 8 from the EXPLORATIONS Book: Real-World Math Made Easy.

    The following materials are required for this activity :

  • Ring stand
  • Standard mass hanger
  • Light spring or Slinky


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