Learning About Motion Webquest


Velocity and acceleration are different concepts, but are both related to motion.  In this webquest, you will learn about velocity and acceleration through material on the Internet. 

Write all your answers on the answer sheet.

Part 1:  General Info

Use these websites to answer the following questions:
http://www.physics4kids.com/files/motion_intro.html
http://physics.webplasma.com/physics01.html#velocity
http://library.thinkquest.org/10796/ch3/ch3.htm#Sec1
http://platea.pntic.mec.es/~cpalacio/acelera2.htm (Spanish)
http://www.geocities.com/calebjd/page7.html (Spanish)

1.  What is velocity?
2.  What is acceleration?
3.  Give an example of something accelerating.


Part 2:  Roller coaster top speeds

Some roller coasters go very fast.  Go to a list of the world's fastest roller coasters here.

4.  What is the name of the world's fastest roller coaster?  How fast does it go?
5.  How fast is the Superman roller coaster at Magic Mountain?

Roller coasters have large accelerations, almost as much as a jet airplane!  That is one reason they are fun.  It is also why they make some people sick.

6.  Have you ever been on a roller coaster?  Do you like them?  Why or why not?


Part 3:  Car moving at constant velocity.

Next, go to the physicslessons.com moving car simulator, here.  This will show you a graph of the position, velocity, and acceleration of a moving car.  You can change the initial position, the initial velocity, and the acceleration of the car.  You press the "Start" button to make the car move.  The "x" graph is the position graph, the "v" graph is the velocity graph, and the "a" graph is the acceleration graph.


Lets make the car move at a constant velocity.  Set the initial position to 0, the initial velocity to 3 m/s, and the acceleration to 0. Click "Start" to see the graphs.  Copy the graphs into your paper.

Answer these questions based on what you saw:

7.  Did the position of the car change?  How?
8.  Did the velocity of the car change? How?
9.  Did the car speed up or slow down?


Part 4:  Car moving at constant acceleration.

Lets make the car accelerate.  Set the initial position to 0, the initial velocity to 0 m/s, and the acceleration to 1 m/s2. Click "Start" to see the graphs.  Copy the graphs into your paper in your paper.

Answer these questions based on what you saw:

10.  Did the position of the car change?  How?
11.  Did the velocity of the car change? How?
12.  Did the car speed up or slow down?


Part 5:  Controlling velocity and acceleration.

Go to the University of Colorado Maze Game. Click the "Run Now" button to run the program. You control the red ball by changing its speed, velocity, or acceleration.

First, move the ball by controlling its position.  To control the ball's position, click the "R" button.  Get the ball to the finish for Level 1, Level 2, and the "Certain Death" level.

Next, move the ball by controlling its velocity.  To control the ball's velocity, click the "V" button.  Get the ball to the finish for Level 1, Level 2, and the "Certain Death" level.

Finally, move the ball by controlling its acceleration.  To control the ball's position, click the "A" button.  Get the ball to the finish for Level 1, Level 2, and the "Certain Death" level.


When you are done, help feed starving people by answering questions at FreeRice, or explore the NASA website.