Velocity and Acceleration 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://library.thinkquest.org/10796/ch3/ch3.htm#Sec1
http://physics.webplasma.com/physicstoc.html
http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/1DKin/U1L1e.html
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.  What is the formula to calculate acceleration?
4.  What is the difference between velocity and acceleration?
5.  Give an example of something accelerating.


Part 2:  Car moving at constant velocity.

Next, go to the physicslessons.com moving car simulator.  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.


What do you think the position vs time and velocity vs time graph will look like for a car moving at a constant speed?  Sketch your predictions on your paper in the "Prediction" column.

Now, 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 in the "Actual" column.

Answer these questions based on what you saw:

6.  Did the position of the car change?  How?
7.  Did the velocity of the car change? How?
8.  What was the acceleration of the car?


Part 3:  Car moving at constant acceleration.

What do you think the position vs time and velocity vs time graph will look like for a car moving at a constant acceleration?  Sketch your predictions on your paper in the "Prediction" column.

Now, 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 the "Actual" column.

Answer these questions based on what you saw:

9.  Did the position of the car change?  How?
10.  Did the velocity fo the car change? How?
11.  What was the acceleration of the car?


Part 4:  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.