Education Technology


How Fast for Whiplash? Going with the Flow

Activity Overview

Students recognize direct variation as a rate of change and apply it in problem situations. They also use average rates of change to make decisions in problem situations.

Before the Activity

  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 77 - 79 from the attached PDF file for your class
  • During the Activity

    Distribute the pages to the class.

    Follow the activity procedures:

  • Use the speeds versus distance data and determine the common speed/distance ratio
  • Observe that this ratio is constant indicating that the rate of change is a direct variation
  • Write an equation relating the two variables
  • Use the equation to predict results
  • After the Activity

    Students complete the Student Activity pages and answer questions.

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