3-Spr1-C

Outcomes

• Pupils can identify the factos which affect stopping distance
• Pupils can use PASCO light gates to measure speed

Specification References

1.17 describe the factors affecting vehicle stopping distance including speed, mass, road condition and reaction time

Starter

Pupils to sort a list of factors into those which affect thinking distance and which affect braking distance

Main Body of Lesson

THIS LESSON NEEDS TO BE SET UP IF IT'S TO RUN IN A SINGLE. I suggest that you collect 6 laptops before your pupils arrive and switch them on. Ideally the relevant kit will be set out in trays (similar to practical exams). Spread the laptops throughout the lab with a tray next to each laptop. When pupils come in have whoever is infront of a laptop log in and open data studio. As this may be the first time they have used data loggers then go through the setup with all of the groups at the same time. Once set up it's time to get some data. If possible ask a few volunteers stay behind to put laptops away or do it yourself if they have a lesson next. I think the times are too tight to have pupils loose 10 mins at the start and end to transport laptops.

The idea of this lesson is to give the pupils some hands on time with stopping distance. This combines low tech (a block of wood) with more high tech kit (PASCO light gates). The pupils will essentially be pushing the blocks of wood through the light gates and measuring how far it takes the block to stop. They'll need to record the speed of the block as it leaves the gate and how far the block travels. They can then plot this on a graph (it should be non-linear) and extrpolate some data (e.g. push the blcok without the light gate, measure the distance to stop and then figure out how fast the block was moving initially.

Plenary

Go through some novel situations at the front such as pushing the block over a different surface (carpet)and with a much heavier block and observing the effect on stopping distance. Have pupils predict the outcome.

Additional Information

Resources Required

6 of the following, ideally set-up in trays similar to a pratical exam:

• PASCO light gate
• PASCO hub (inc. cables)
• block of wood
• picket fence
• croc clips
• sturdy elastic band

+ demo of carpet and heavier block