Activity Overview
Intended for the beginning lessons in derivative and function graphs, this activity uses motion detectors and battery operated toy cars to generate constant velocity graphs on a TI-83/84.
Then students take a free-wheeling car and roll it up an incline with the motion detector gathering data for the complete trip up and down. Students then make observations about velocity and acceleration graphs of this position graph. Analysis questions are included.
Before the Activity
Teacher Notes are attached
During the Activity
Student activity packet with analysis questions is attached.
After the Activity
Review student answers:
As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
Re-teach concepts as necessary