Racing Away Lab

Created Jan. 24, 2024 by Deb Crawford

Racing Away Lab Part I

Determine the slope of a line when given two points on the line; write the equation of a line when given the graph of the line, two points on the line, or the slope and a point on the line; and graph linear equations in two variables. Make connections between and among multiple representations of functions using verbal descriptions, tables, equations, and graphs.

How can we determine the average velocity of a car from a table or graph?

Part I:  Instructions: Give one toy car, tape, measuring stick and a timer app per group.

  1. Roles: One person will be the car driver for this lab.  Two other students will be the catcher and the timer.
  2. Race 1: The catcher will stand exactly 20 feet from the driver.    (Distance will be marked with tape.)
  3. Driver will say, “Go” and roll the car to the catcher.
  4. The timer will start the timer when the driver says, “Go” and stop timing when the car reaches the tape at 20 ft..
  5. Race 2: The driver and the catcher will then switch spots, so that the driver is at the 20 foot mark and the catcher is at the 0 foot mark.
  6. Repeat steps 3 and 4.

Part II:  Data Collection

        

Race 1 (s)Race 2 (ft.)
Time (s) Distance (ft.)Time (s)Distance (ft.)
020
200

                                                        

Look at your data. What do you notice?

Part III:  Graphing: Use desmos to create a graph. Paste in a screenshot of your graph.

  1. Label the x-axis of each graph below as the time.
  2. Label the y-axis of each graph below as the distance.
  3. Plot the two points from the tables above on the graphs below.
  4. Draw a line to connect the points.

                

        Race 1        (insert graph)                                                Race 2 (insert graph)                

        

Part IV:  Interpretation

What are the units of measurement on the x-axis?

What are the units of measurement on the y-axis?

What do you notice about each of the lines in the graphs above?

As time increases in Race 1, what happens to the distance?

As time increases in Race 2, what happens to the distance?

If velocity is defined as speed plus direction, then...

What are the units of measurement for the velocity for this car?  

Compare the average velocities for the cars in each race.  Which car went faster?

What is the velocity of the car in Race 1?

What is the velocity of the car in Race 2?

How could we determine the average velocity of each car by looking at the graph?

How could we determine the average velocity of each car by using the table?

Write a function rule (equation) showing distance as a function of time to model each race?

        Race 1:  __________________________________________

        Race 2:  __________________________________________

Racing Away Lab Part II

Determine the slope of a line when given two points on the line; write the equation of a line when given the graph of the line, two points on the line, or the slope and a point on the line; and graph linear equations in two variables. Make connections between and among multiple representations of functions using verbal descriptions, tables, equations, and graphs.

In which race does your car have the fastest average velocity?

Part I:   Instructions: Give one toy car, tape, measuring stick and a timer app per group.

  1. Roles: Each group of students will choose a driver, a catcher and a timer.
  2. Race 1: The catcher will stand at exactly 20 feet.  The driver will pick any distance between 0 and 20 feet from which to roll the car.
  3. The driver will say go and roll the car to the catcher.
  4. The timer will start time when the racer says, “Go”and stop time when the car reaches the catcher.
  5. Race 2: The catcher will then stand at exactly 0 feet.  The driver will pick any distance between 20 and 0 feet from which to roll the car at Time 0.
  6. Repeat steps 3 and 4.

Part II:  Data Collection

Record the data in the following tables:

Race 1Race 2
Time (s) Distance (ft.)Time (s)Distance (ft.)
00
200

Look at your data. What do you notice?

        

Part III:  Graphing: Use desmos to create a graph. Paste in a screenshot of your graph.

  1. Label the x-axis of each graph below as the time.
  2. Label the y-axis of each graph below as the distance.
  3. Plot the two points from the tables above on the graphs below.
  4. Draw a line to connect the points.

                

        Race 1        (insert graph)                                                Race 2 (insert graph)                

        

Part IV:  Interpretation

What are the units of measurement on the x-axis?  

What are the units of measurement on the y-axis?  

What do you notice about the direction of each of the lines in the graphs of each race?

As time increases in Race 1, what happens to the distance?  

As time increases in Race 2, what happens to the distance?

If velocity is defined as speed with direction, then...

What are the units of measurement for the velocity for this car?  

Compare the average velocity for the cars in each race.  

What is the average velocity of the car in Race 1?

What is the average velocity of the car in Race 2?

In which race was your car faster?

What was the starting distance for Race 1?

What was the starting distance for Race 2?

Write a function rule (equation) showing distance as a function of time to model each race.

                Race 1:  __________________________________________

                Race 2:  __________________________________________

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