Activity Detail
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Activity Overview

In this activity, students will investigate the motion of a mass moving up and down on a spring. They collect data for the position, velocity, and acceleration of the mass's motion and examine the relationship between them.

Before the Activity

  • Connect the calculator to the CBR 2™
  • Install the TI Connect™ software to analyze data on the computer
  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 67 - 72 from the attached PDF file for your class

    		•

    		During the Activity

    		Distribute the pages to your class.

    Follow the Activity procedures:
  • Run the Ranger program on the calculator
  • Attach the mass to the spring and place the CBR beneath it
  • Pull the mass from its resting position so that it oscillates up and down, and begin data collection
  • Observe the sinusoidal distance-time graph displayed on the calculator screen
  • Subtract the equilibrium position from the distance list and plot a new distance-time graph
  • Produce a model that best fits the data
  • Record the Period of the motion and calculate the number of cycles that the mass moves
  • Record the horizontal shift of the data and the final equation

    		After the Activity

    		Students will complete the Data 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 : Precalculus / Trig : Trigonometric Functions

    Author:
    Texas Instruments

    Level:
    9-12

    Activity Time:
    60 Minutes

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

    Apps:
     

    Software:
    TI Connect™

    Accessories:
    CBR™/CBR 2™, TI Connectivity Cable, Unit-to-Unit link cables

    Other:
    This is Activity 13 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
    Modeling Motion: High School Math Activities With The CBR

    The following materials are required for this activity:

  • Spring with hanging mass
  • Support stand


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