Activity Detail
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Light at a Distance: Distance and Light Intensity
 


Activity Overview

In this activity, students will use a light sensor to record the light intensity at various distances from a bulb. They will compare the data to an inverse square and a power law model.

Before the Activity

  • Connect the light sensor to Channel 1 on the CBL 2™ or Vernier 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 157 - 162 from the attached PDF file for your class

    		•

    		During the Activity

    		Distribute the pages to your class.

    Follow the Activity procedures:
  • Arrange the sensor and the light bulb for data collection
  • Dim the lights to darken the room
  • Move the sensor away from the light source in 1 cm increments and study the graph of light intensity versus distance
  • Trace the graph, record the left-most x and y values on the Data sheet, and calculate the initial model parameter
  • Use these values to model a best fit function for the inverse-square model and the power law model

    		After the Activity

    		Students will complete the Student 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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    view textbook alignment

    Subject Area:
    Math : Algebra II : Rational Functions

    Author:
    Texas Instruments

    Level:
    9-12

    Activity Time:
    60 Minutes

    Device:
    TI-83 Plus Family, TI-84 Plus Family

    Apps:
    DataMate, EasyData™

    Software:
    TI Connect™

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

    Other:
    This is Activity 16 from the EXPLORATIONS Book: Real-World Math Made Easy.

    The following materials are required for this activity:

  • Meter Stick
  • DC-powered point light source


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