Activity Overview
Students interpret graphs of empirical data with respect to rate of change of the height of water in vases of different shapes that are being filled at a constant rate. Students are provided with a range of graphs and vases. For each graph they must reshape the vase in order to match the volume – height graph. For each vase they must produce a volume – height graph. Practical ideas including data collection and videos are provided in the teacher notes.
Objectives
Interpretation of graphs of empirical data with respect to rate of change, specifically, the height of water in containers of different shapes that are being filled at a constant rate
Vocabulary
- Rate of change
- Empirical data
- Constant / Variable
About the Lesson
The teacher notes provide practical suggestions on how this lesson can be introduced, including YouTube videos and data collection, both options provide quickly accessible contextual and empirical data. The student questions provide forward and reverse conceptual development. Students respond to questions requiring them to produce a volume-height graph for a given vase and then the reverse, draw a picture of a vase given a particular volume – height graph. The final question challenges students to draw a graph if the water is flowing out at a constant rate.