Similar patterns of motion can be found in the laboratory and in real-life conditions. Real life often demonstrates greater chaos, however, due to the complex effects of environmental conditions such as weather.
Bicycles, roller skates, and skateboards provide opportunities for learning about the science of motion. The following graphs, excerpted from the series The Science of Wheels from Schottenbauer Publishing, provide data on the motion of wheels.
Discussion Questions
Which dotted lines show the motion of the pedal? Which dotted lines show the motion of the back wheel?
How many times does the pedal rotate? How many times does the back wheel rotate?
What occurs at the end of the graph?
Does the period of the motion of the back wheel change over the course of the graph? If so, why?
Note: The rotational motion detector has a diameter of 0.8 cm, and the roller skate has a diameter of 6.0325 cm. Discussion Questions
How many times does the wheel rotate?
What is the maximum acceleration of the wheel?
What is the maximum velocity of the wheel?
Does the wheel ever roll backwards? How can this be determined?
Discussion Questions
What is the maximum force exerted to pull the skateboard? The total force?
What is the work required to pull the skateboard?
What force would be necessary to pull the skateboard, if no wheels were present?
What is the average speed of the skateboard in this graph?
Discussion Questions
Describe the motion of the wheels in words.
How far do the wheels travel in this graph?
Estimate the initial velocity of the wheels.
Estimate the average velocity of the wheels.
Between 83 and 86 seconds, what is the average acceleration of the wheels?
Toys provide excellent models for learning about air travel. The following graphs, excerpted from the series The Science of Flight from Schottenbauer Publishing, provide data on two types of flight.
Discussion Questions
What is the maximum height of the air rocket?
What is the total time of flight?
What is the angle of the rocket before launch?
What occurs at the end of the trajectory?
Estimate the speed immediately after launch.
Discussion Questions
What is the maximum height of the plastic bag? The minimum height?
What is the average speed of descent?
On the same graph, sketch the trajectory of a ball falling from the same height.
Estimate the force of air resistance per unit surface area.
The following books from Schottenbauer Publishing contain similar types of graphs and data pertaining to the science of air travel:
In the USA, many children have played with either a hand-powered or electric train. With a bit of scientific equipment, toy trains are interesting tools for learning science and math. The following graphs, excerpted from the series The Science of Trains from Schottenbauer Publishing, provide data from several toy trains.
Discussion Questions
What are the minimum and maximum values of each variable?
Draw the trajectory of the train, marking its position every half second with a label.
What is the absolute distance the train travels on the track?
What is the average speed of the train?
Discussion Questions
What is the average current while the power is on?
What is the average electric potential while the power is on?
What is the average real power while the current is on? The potential power?
When the power is turned on, how much time is required to reach the maximum values?
What is the electrical resistance in this example?
What might be the effect of adding or subtracting cars to the train? Adding or subtracting weight to the train?
Discussion Questions
What is the maximum force required to pull the train?
What is the average force required to pull the train?
How much work is exerted while pulling the train?
At what point in time does the train begin to move? (Hint: The accelerometer, measuring acceleration and Force 2, is on the train.)
The following books from Schottenbauer Publishing contain similar types of graphs and data pertaining to the science of trains:
