What is Gravity?

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

Wooden board, 2 m long
Meter stick
Dynamics cart
Bricks or some books
Masking tape

Resource Types

Lessons

Report an Issue

What is Gravity?

Activity Overview

In this activity, students will perform a series of experiments with inclined planes. They will learn that as the angle of inclination of the inclined plane approaches 90?, the value of the acceleration of the cart traveling down the ramp gets closer and closer to that of gravitational acceleration.

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 17 - 20 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

Set up an inclined plane

Position the CBR on the top of the ramp

Place the cart at the top of the inclined ramp in front of the CBR, and release it

Record the velocity

Repeat the experiment 5 more times, increasing the angle of inclination each time

Determine the slope for each trial

Calculate the acceleration

Tabulate the angle of inclination and acceleration data

Determine the acceleration of the object when the angle of inclination approaches 90?

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

Wooden board, 2 m long
Meter stick
Dynamics cart
Bricks or some books
Masking tape

Resource Types

Lessons

Report an Issue

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What is Gravity?

What is Gravity?

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