Car on an Incline

Activity 1

Return to Investigation 1 if you have not completed it.

 

Investigation 2

 

Scenario 2

Carolyn sent her car up the hill again. When the car first reached the hill, it was moving at the same speed it was moving at that point in the first scenario. However, Carolyn gave it a little power this time to try to keep it going.

 

Animation: Car with a little power

 

To simulate Carolyn's actions, you are going to use the time slider and the power slider. First set the time slider to 0 seconds.

 

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1.     With the power set to level 0, click on the dot on the time slider and use the arrow keys to move the time slider.

a.     How high above the flat street does the car go with power 0?

 

 

b.     How long after starting up the hill does the car take to reach that top height?

 

 

Next, return the time slider to 0 seconds. Click on the dot on the power slider, and use the arrow keys to move the power from 0 to 7. Watch how the graph changes as you change the power.

 

2.     With the power set to level 7, click on the dot on the time slider and use the arrow keys to move the time slider.

a.     How high above the flat street does the car go with power 7?

 

 

b.     How long after starting up the hill does the car take to reach that top height?

 

 

3.     Describe how the shape of the graph at power of 7 is similar to, and different from, the graph at power 0.

 

 

4.     Move the power slider to 8, and again use the time slider to help you examine the graph. Use this information and your experience watching your toy car in the first investigation to help explain what the graph tells you about the car's trip. Consider motion, time, and height of the car during its trip. Refer to the graph to justify your answers.

 

 

Continue to Investigation 3!


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