Freefall
Challenge
Description
The purpose
of this activity is to
investigate apparent
weight and to see how
astronauts in space can
feel “weightless”.
If their apparent weight
is zero, then they feel “weightless”.
Norbert and Zot are waiting
in an elevator for you
to investigate what happens
when you accelerate the
elevator. Velocity is
the distance traveled
divided by time it takes
and to accelerate is
to change the velocity.
If the velocity of the
elevator moves Norbert
and Zot downward, we
say their velocity is
a positive number and
if the velocity of the
elevator moves Norbert
and Zot upward, we say
their velocity is a negative
number. Similarly, if
you increase the velocity
in the downward direction,
we will say the acceleration
is a positive number,
but if you increase the
velocity in the upward
direction, we will say
the acceleration is a
negative number. Positive
and negative numbers
are essential to describe
motion. If these ideas
are confusing, there
are definitions and interactivities
for you in the book to
help you understand the
concepts.
Instructional
Objectives
The student will
- understand
the concept of freefall
and how it effects
apparent weight.
- review
and solidify the concepts
of displacement, velocity,
acceleration, mass,
force, weight, and
gravity.
- use graphing
skills to analyze and
interpret data.
- compare
freefall and apparent
weight on the Earth
to that on the Moon.
- understand how simulations
are made from computer
programs.
Go
to Squeak Exercise
Challenge Web Activity
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