Activities and Labs

9.4 Investigation

Your Speed

We all depend on ways of transporting ourselves from one place to another. Devices that procide personal transportation, such as bicycles, wheelchairs, and cars, can be evaluated from a wide variety of perspectives. In this investigation you will gather one kind of evidence (the normal, safe speed) by which to judge a transportation device of your choice. You may also use other perspectives, such as safety, esthetics (beauty, economic cost, peer appeal, and environmental impact to evaluate your means of personal transportation.
Once you have completed this investigation you will compare your results with those of other students. Remember:this is not a race. Pay particular attention to how you take your measurments, perform your calculations, and write up your lab report.

Question

What is the speed of your personal transportation device?

Design

Measure the total distance and the total time in order to calculate the speed of your device for personal transportation. The controlled variables will be the transportation device, the force of propulsion, and the speed. Distance will be the independent variable, and time will be the dependant variable.
a)Design a neat, labelled table in which to record your observations.

Materials

• personal transportation (e.g.,shoes, bicycle, skateboard, wheelchair, or cross-country skis)
• distance measuring device (e.g., pace, tape measure, bicycle wheel, odometer)
• timing device (e.g.,wristwatch, stopwatch, water closck, or pendulum)
• safety equipment as required (e.g.,helmet, writ guards, reflective clothing)

Procedure

1. Find a safe environment within the school grounds and wear all appropriate safety equipment.
2. Select an appropriate distance over which to travel. Mark the Start and Finish points.
3. Measure and record the total time required to safely transport you or your partner over the total distance. (Figure 1)
4. Measure and record the total distance travelled in that period of time.
5. Repeat steps 3 adn 4 at least three times.
6. Choose a different distance and repeat steps 2 to 5 twice more, giving data for three different distances, in total.
7. Return all equipment to storage.

Analysis and Evaluation

b)Calculate the speed for each trial, using the formula

speed=distance/time

c)Answer the initial question based on your calculations from (b)
d)Evaluate the evidence gathered by making judgments on the Design, Materials, Procedure, andyour own skills.
e)Compare your results with those of other groups. Explain any similarities and differences.
f)Evaluate your personal transportation device based only on speed.
g)How else could you evaluate your chosen means of transport? Would you value your transportations differently, using other perspectives?
h)Could your answers be used to help you choose a personal transportation system? Why or why not?
i)Write a formal lab report for this investigation.

Understanding Concepts

1. Scientists are always looking for relationshopes among variables. The following questions investigate such a relationship.
   a)If the distance of travel increases and teh time remains the same, what has heppened to the average speed?
   b)If the distance of travel remains the same and the time increases, what has happened to the average speed?
   c)If the speed of travel increases and the time remains the same, what happens to the distance travelled?
   d)If the speed of travel remains the sme and the time increases, what happens to the distance travelled?
   e)If the speed of travel increases and the distance remains the same, what happens to the time required for the trip?
   f)If the speed of travel remains the same and the distance increases, what happens to the time required for the trip?

2. The relationship between two variables such as speed and distance may be, among others, a direct variation (such as x and y in the formula y=kx) or an inverse variation (such as x and y in y=k/x). Use these terms to describe the relationship between:
   a)speed and distance;
   b)speed and time;
   c)distance and time.

3. Combining the relationships described in the previous question, create an algebraic definition (equation) for the relationships among speed, distance and time.

   Exploring

   
   
4. List at least five different personal transportaion devices. Consider when each first came into common use.
   a)What trends can you detect developing over time? (Consider, for example, materials used, power source, and speed of each means of transportation.)
   b)What might be the safety and environmental impacts of these trends?

5. Complete a risk-benefit analysis of at least 5 personal transportation devices.

6. Plan an investigation to find the speed of the traffic passing your school. Your equipment could include a stop watch, "Start" and "Finish" markers, a 30-m tape measure, and a clipboard. Draw conclusions about illegal speeding in your school's neighbourhood.

Challenge!!!

How does the timing device you used in this investigation differ from those available to Galileo?

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