Activity Overview
In this activity, students' will record the x- and y-coordinates of a rod moving in a figure-eight pattern. They will then use the recorded motion information to separately model the x- and y-motion as a function of time. They will plot the experimental data in a y versus x graph and the x- and y-models parametrically for comparison to the experimental data.
Before the Activity
Set up the motion detectors along the lines of symmetry of figure-eight
Connect the motion detectors to the DIG/SONIC port of each of the CBL 2™ or the DIG/SONIC 1 and DIG/SONIC 2 ports of the Vernier LabPro®
Connect the CBL 2 or LabPro to the calculator using the Unit-to-Unit cable
Make a note of which detector will collect x-data and which one will gather y-data
See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
Print pages 227 - 234 from the attached PDF file for your class
During the Activity
Distribute the pages to your class.
Follow the Activity procedures:
Move the rod along the figure-eight pattern and observe the distance versus time graph on the calculator
Graph x- versus time and y- versus time data, and fit a sine curve to the data
Graph the data of the y-detector versus the data of the x-detector and superimpose the sine models on the y versus x plot
Evaluate the quality of the parametric sine model for the motion data
After the Activity
Students will complete the Data Collection and Analysis 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