The purpose of this activity is to give you practice in measuring average speeds, and to get you thinking about average and instantaneous speeds.
This activity has two parts.
Important: You will be working in a group of 3-4 students, but this is not a group activity. You will collect your own data, and make your own calculations. Each student will submit their own results and conclusions.
meter stick |
stop watch (or watch with a seconds hand) |
IMPORTANT:
1. It is more important to move at a consistent (and safe) speed than it is to go fast. This is NOT A RACE and there are no prizes for "winning!"
When you have finished Part 1, report to your teacher. It is not necessary that your calculations be complete.
1. How do your measured and calculated values for the "unknown distance" compare? If there is a large discrepancy, why do you think it occurred?
2. How is the average speed of a person related to the net distance covered and the total time taken?
3. If the average speed of a person was 1.2 meters/second, does
this mean that their speed was exactly 1.2 meters/second the whole
time? Is the average speed related to the maximum or minimum speed of
the person? Explain why you think so.