Stretching a Penny

Author

Texas Instruments

Alignment

Standards Alignment

Textbook Alignment

Subject Area

Math: Algebra I: Linear Functions

Level

9-12

Activity Time

60 Minutes

Software

TI Connect™

TI Calculator

TI-84 series

Accessories

CBR™ 2 motion sensor

Other Materials

Handful of pennies
Paper bowl or plate
Ring stand or hook
Spring or slinky

Report an Issue

Stretching a Penny

Activity Overview

In this activity, students investigate how a spring stretches when different weights pull on it. They relate the stretch of the spring directly to the weight and vice-versa.

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 1 - 4 from the attached PDF file for your class

During the Activity

Distribute the pages 1 - 4 to your class.

Follow the Activity procedures:

Run the Ranger program

Attach the plate to the spring and hang the spring from a ring stand

Position the CBR face up under the plate

Record the distance between the CBR and the plate

Add 5 pennies to the plate and measure the distance between the plate and the CBR

Repeat the above step until a total of 20 pennies have been added to the plate

Record the distance data and calculate the amount of stretch per penny

Add a handful of pennies to the plate, measure the distance, and predict the number of pennies

Count the pennies and compare with the predicted value

For a given number of pennies predict the stretch

Determine the proportionality constant for this variation

After the Activity

Students will complete the Data Collection table 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

Download Files

Download All Files (ZIP)

Before the Activity Files

Teacher Notes PDF Student Activity PDF

Author

Texas Instruments

Alignment

Standards Alignment

Textbook Alignment

Subject Area

Math: Algebra I: Linear Functions

Level

9-12

Activity Time

60 Minutes

Software

TI Connect™

TI Calculator

TI-84 series

Accessories

CBR™ 2 motion sensor

Other Materials

Handful of pennies
Paper bowl or plate
Ring stand or hook
Spring or slinky

Report an Issue

iPad is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Vernier EasyData,Vernier EasyLink and Vernier EasyTemp are registered trademarks of Vernier Science Education.

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Stretching a Penny

Stretching a Penny

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