Krista Fay Hook June 2014

Lesson Plan #3 Relative Velocity

Overview
Students will be able to use graphs and determine average velocity. Students will learn
what it means to have relative speed and what points of reference mean.

http://dc.doe.in.gov/Standards/AcademicStandards/PrintLibrary/docs-science/2010-science-physicsi.pdf

Process Standards
Apply standard techniques in laboratory investigations to measure physical quantities in
appropriate units and convert quantities to other units as necessary.
Clearly communicate their ideas and results of investigations verbally and in written
form using tables, graphs, diagrams and photographs.

Reading Standards
11-12.RS.8 Evaluate the hypotheses, data, analysis, and conclusions in a science text,
verifying the data when possible and corroborating or challenging conclusions with other
sources of information.
11-12.RS.3 Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out
experiments or taking measurements; analyze the specific results based on explanations
in the text.
11-12.RS.4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific
words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific context relevant to grades 11-
12 texts and topics.

Writing Standards
11-12.WS.2 Write informative/explanatory texts, including scientific
procedures/experiments.
11-12.WS.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization,
and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
11-12.WS.7 Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a
question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the
inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating
understanding of the subject under investigation.
11-12.WS.10 Write routinely over extended time frames (time for reflection and
revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of
discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

Content Standards
P.1.1 Using motion, maps, graphs and algebraic equations, describe, measure, and
analyze constant acceleration motion in one dimension in terms of time and the
vector quantities of displacement, velocity and acceleration.
Krista Fay Hook June 2014
P.1.2 Using motion, maps, graphs and algebraic equations, describe, measure, and
analyze constant acceleration motion in two dimensions in terms of time and the
vector quantities of displacement, velocity and acceleration. Consider specifically
projectile motion and uniform circular motion.

Engagement
Go over results of Constant velocity. Remind them the compared two differently capable
cars, one which was slower than the other.
Ask them when theyre in the car on the road, what speed would they guess other cars
are traveling?
If a car is moving along next to you, what speed is it going compared to you? How do
you know?
If the car is going faster, what direction does it go from you? How fast is it going away
from you? Is it the speed the car is going? Or is it the speed the car appears to be going?
Is there a way to figure out how long a police car going a certain speed will catch up to a
slower moving getaway driver?
Is there a way to figure out how much of a head start a slower car will need in order to
cross a finish line before the faster car gets there?
Essential Questions
Can we use procedures from the Constant Velocity Activity to quickly determine the
constant velocity of the cars were studying?
How do we determine relative speed? What does relative speed mean?
Can we determine how long two cars going known speeds will collide at a set distance?
Can we determine how much of a head start in distance a slower car needs to win a race
against a faster car, both having known speeds?
What other things can we predict?
Objectives
The students will be able to
Use previous experience to quickly determine average velocity of two different cars.
Use average speeds to predict relative speeds in different situations.
Use average speeds to predict distances/time required to achieve a certain goal.
Experimentally determine relative speeds, distances, and times related to certain goals
and compare to predictions.
Procedures
Use Relative Velocity (Speed) Activity Worksheet for this lesson.
Co-Teaching Model
both teachers monitor students during predictions and laboratory investigations
Resources/Materials
Faster toy cars which travel at constant speed.
Krista Fay Hook June 2014
Slower toy cars which travel at constant speed
Stop watches
Meter sticks
Large flat area
Assessment/Evaluation
Laboratory worksheets will be accompanied by a brief page lab report explaining
what they did and learned while doing the experiment. Where their predictions right?
What did they struggle most with?
It will be assessed according to participation, method of measurement, minimization of
error, and intuitive. Extra credit will be given to students who think of a scenario the
teacher did not that is viable. Also will be assessing both engagement and minds on
learning.
Informal questioning/discussion at conclusion of lab to discuss data and why some might
be different than others.
exam and/or quiz questions asking students:
o Conceptual relationship between objects moving towards/away/with other
objects.


























Krista Fay Hook June 2014
Relative Velocity (Speed)

Procedure:

1. Determine the average velocity (speed) in cm/s of each of the two vehicles you are
using in this laboratory activity. Explain what you did to determine the average
speeds.

Vehicle 1: __________ cm/s




Vehicle 2: __________ cm/s



Moving Opposite Directions Toward Each Other

If you know the average speeds of two different vehicles, then you can determine what
their relative speed will be as they move toward each other from some specified
distance away.




2. Based on the average speeds that you determined for your two vehicles, what do
you predict the relative speed of the vehicles to be as they approach each other
from opposite directions? (i.e., At what rate should they close in on each other?)
_______ cm/s. Record this value in the data table.
3. Place the two cars facing each other 300 cm apart. Turn on both cars and release
at the same time. Measure the amount of time it takes for the two vehicles to meet.
Use two timers and perform two trials.
4. Average the four time values together and record in the data table.
Krista Fay Hook June 2014
5. Divide the distance apart by the average time to meet in order to calculate the
relative speed (v = d/t).
6. Repeat this process for closing distances of 600 cm and 900 cm.

Distance
Apart
(cm)
Predicted
Relative
Speed
(cm/s)
Time to Meet (s)
Average
Time
(s)
Measured
Relative
Speed
(cm/s)
Trial 1 Trial 2
Timer 1 Timer 2 Timer 1 Timer 2
300


600
900

7. Make a statement comparing your predicted relative speed with the measured
relative speeds.


8. What are some possible reasons why they may not be exactly the same?


Moving Same Direction Faster Car in Back

It is also possible to investigate relative speed when the cars are traveling in the same
direction with the faster car catching up to the slower car, as shown below.



9. Based on the average speeds that you determined for your two vehicles, what do
you expect the relative speed to be as the faster vehicle catches up to the slower
one from behind? (i.e., At what rate does the faster vehicle close in on the other
vehicle?) _______ cm/s. Record this value in the data table.
10. Place the two cars facing the same direction with the front end of the faster rear car
100 cm behind the back end of the slower front car. Turn on both cars and release
at the same time. Measure the amount of time it takes for the faster rear car to
catch up to the slower front car. Use two timers and perform two trials.
11. Average the four time values together and record in the data table.
12. Divide the distance apart by the average time to meet in order to calculate the
relative speed (v = d/t).
13. Repeat this process for closing distances of 200 cm and 300 cm.

Krista Fay Hook June 2014
Distance
Apart
(cm)
Predicted
Relative
Speed
(cm/s)
Time to Meet (s)
Average
Time
(s)
Measured
Relative
Speed
(cm/s)
Trial 1 Trial 2
Timer 1 Timer 2 Timer 1 Timer 2
100


200
300

14. Make a statement comparing your predicted relative speed with the measured
relative speeds.



15. What are some possible reasons why they may not be exactly the same?



Moving Opposite Directions Away From Each Other

It is also possible to investigate relative speed when the cars are traveling in opposite
directions away from each other, as shown below. One way to do this is to start the
cars some specified distance apart, release them at the same time, and then visually
locate the positions of the cars at some specified time after release. The change in the
distance apart divided by the time will be their relative speed.




16. Based on the average speeds that you determined for your two vehicles, what do
you expect the relative speed of the vehicles to be as they move away from each
other? (i.e., At what rate should the distance between them increase?) _______
cm/s. Record this value in the data table.
17. Begin each run with the fronts of the cars some specified distance apart. Use tape
to mark the starting positions. Record this initial distance apart in the data table.
18. Release the cars at the same time and have spotters note the positions of the fronts
of the cars 2 seconds after release. Measure their new distance apart and record in
the data table. Perform another trial and record in the data table. Average the two
distances and record in the table.
Krista Fay Hook June 2014
19. Subtract the initial distance apart from the final distance apart to obtain the change
in distance apart. Divide the average change in distance apart by the time to
determine their relative speed.
20. Repeat this process for running times of 4 and 6 seconds.

Initial
Distance
Apart
(cm)
Predicted
Relative
Speed
(cm/s)
Running
Time
(s)
Final Distance
Apart (cm)
Average
Distance
Apart
(cm)
Change in
Distance
Apart
(cm)
Measured
Relative
Speed
(cm/s)
Trial 1 Trial 2


2
4
6

21. Make a statement comparing your predicted relative speed with the measured
relative speeds.



22. What are some possible reasons why they may not be exactly the same?






Moving Same Direction Faster Car in Front

It is also possible to investigate relative speed when the cars are traveling in the same
direction and the faster car is in front pulls away from the slower rear car, as shown
below. One way to do this is to again start the cars some specified distance apart,
release them at the same time, and then visually locate the positions of the cars at
some specified time after release. The change in the distance apart divided by the time
will be their relative speed.




Krista Fay Hook June 2014
23. Based on the average speeds that you determined for your two vehicles, what do
you expect the relative speed to be as the faster vehicle runs away from the slower
one? (i.e., At what rate does the faster vehicle leave the other vehicle behind?)
_______ cm/s. Record this value in the data table.
24. Begin each run with the fronts of the cars some specified distance apart. Use tape
to mark the starting positions. Record this initial distance apart in the data table.
25. Place the two cars facing the same direction at their starting positions. Release the
cars at the same time and have spotters note the positions of the fronts of the cars
2 seconds after release. Measure their new distance apart and record in the data
table. Perform another trial and record in the data table. Average the two distances
and record in the table.
26. Subtract the initial distance apart from the final distance apart to obtain the change
in distance apart. Divide the average change in distance apart by the time to
determine their relative speed.
27. Repeat this process for running times of 4 and 6 seconds.

Initial
Distance
Apart
(cm)
Predicted
Relative
Speed
(cm/s)
Running
Time
(s)
Final Distance
Apart (cm)
Average
Distance
Apart
(cm)
Change in
Distance
Apart
(cm)
Measured
Relative
Speed
(cm/s)
Trial 1 Trial 2


2
4
6

28. Make a statement comparing your predicted relative speed with the measured
relative speeds.



29. What are some possible reasons why they may not be exactly the same?