Vectors Mini Project Follow all the directions of this assignment and show all your work. Your parent(s) will need to help you and sign this paper indicating that they ve helped you and that you ve taught them the physics necessary to understand your calculations and the concepts. Materials For this project, you will need: a stop watch or a watch with a timer on it, a map (print map, map from Google maps or other internet mapping site), graph paper, a compass (magnetic north/south kind) a protractor and your scientific calculator. You will also need the help of a parent(s) and/or another family member with a car and a driver s license to complete this mini project. Part I Velocity Vectors Plot a route on your map from your home to another location perhaps, Wal-mart, Shop-rite, Annandale Deli, Post Office, McDonalds, this your choice it should be several miles from your home and must have a minimum of five directional changes. Using the stop watch, your compass and the car s odometer, drive the route you plot. Mark the distance to each change in direction you make, and the time to travel that distance, mark the direction (N, S, E, W, NNE, etc ) using a 16 pt compass rose that you travel. Record the time taken for each leg of the trip. Sample Map. c Do NOT look at the speedometer while doing this. Parents, you may drive at a constant speed, or speed up and slow down as you wish. Using your average velocity equation, calculate the average velocity of the car (and you) over each time interval. Make sure to include a direction, as velocity is a vector quantity. Complete the data table for each leg of the trip. Remember your units MUST agree, so you may have to do some converting.
Part II: Acceleration On a highway, or major road, time how long it takes your parents to accelerate from rest (v = 0 mph) to different speeds. Parents you may accelerate as quickly or a slowly as you are comfortable with (at no time should you drive at an unsafe speed or above the speed limit). Complete Data Table-2, and make sure to remember that you may have to do some converting to make your units agree with each other. Do several (4-5) different trials. Part III: Deceleration For this part, the student will time how long it takes their parents to slow down, either by braking or by coasting (I recommend doing both), from a known speed to another known speed. They will calculate the deceleration (or negative acceleration) of the car and themselves. Fill in the chart below and show all calculations for several trials (4-5). What are the make, year, and model of the type of car you rode in for this experiment? Part IV: Sample Calculations: Show one Sample calculation for each calculation you make in this mini-project Example of Sample Calculations (The calculation part may be hand written.) Distance Conversion to miles to meters 1600 meters 4 miles x 6400 meters 1 mile Calculation of Average Velocity V avg dist 6400 meters m 20 time 320 sec s Calculation of Average Acceleration a avg m m v 20 0 f v i s s m 2.0 2 time 10 sec s Part V: Graphical Analysis of vectors Graph-1 Distance Create a scaled vector diagram of your trip. Use your direction and distance for Graph-1 Show each leg of your trip the tail of your first vector should be located at the starting point. Connect the tail of each successive vector to the tip of the previous vector. Each directional distance vector should scaled to an appropriate size to fit on your graph. Draw a Resultant vector from your starting location to your end point Graph-2 Velocity Create a scaled vector diagram of the velocities on your trip. Use your direction and velocities for Graph-2 Show the velocity of each leg of your trip. The tail of your first vector should be located at the starting point. Connect the tail of each successive vector to the tip of the previous vector. Each velocity vector should scaled to an appropriate size to fit on your graph.
Draw a Resultant vector from the tail your initial velocity vector to the tip of your final velocity vector. Sa Sample Vector Graph Part VI: Mathematical Analysis of Resultant Vectors Make a right triangle with your resultant vector as the hypotenuse. Measure the angle opposite the right angle. Find the x and y components of the resultant vector D x = D Resultant x sin D y = D Resultant x cos Repeat for the Velocity Vector Diagram. The Report: The report should be typed with the exception of the sample calculations. The report should include the following details Cover Page with Title your name and date (5 pts) Creative Title (3 pts) Purpose (the explains the objective of the activity) (10 pts) Map (5 pts) Data (10 pts) Sample Calculations (2 pts) Graphical Analysis of Vectors (10 pts) Mathematical Resolution of your resultant vectors into their components (10 pts) Parent Student Signature Page (5 pts) Students please discuss with your parent/ driver the following concepts: In your discussion please make sure you compare the paired items. Vector Quantities/Scalar Quantities Speed/Velocity Acceleration/Deceleration Displacement/Distance
Sample Data Tables Car Data: Year: Make: Model: Data Table-1: Average Velocity Vectors Location: Distance: (miles) From odometer Distance: (meters) conversion Home/Start Time: (seconds) Average Velocity: Meters/second Direction: (Use the compass rose) Data Table-2: Acceleration Location: Starting Speed: mph Ending Speed: mph Time: sec Acceleration: Direction: (Use compass rose) Data Table 4: Deceleration Location: Starting Speed: Ending Speed: Time: Deceleration: Direction:
Part VII: Parent and Student Signature I,, (student) have taught my parent(s) about the physics that I have learned this year in Mr. Brochinsky s class. I have been patient with them and worked with them until they understood the material and was confident that they knew the main ideas. I am grateful that they have taken an interest in me and my academic career., [parent(s)] have helped my/our child with this project and been patient with them while they were explaining to me the concepts and equations to be used in these experiments. I understand the physics that they are learning in Mr. Brochinsky s class and I am grateful to have been a part of their learning process. The student discussed the following terms with me: Concept Discussed Initials Vector Quantities/Scalar Quantities Speed/Velocity Acceleration/Deceleration Displacement/Distance
Vector Mini-Project Grading Rubric NAME: The report should include the following details Page Points Available Points Received Separate Cover Page with Title your name and date 5 Creative Title (not Vector Mini-Project) 3 Self-Composed Purpose 10 Map 5 Data 10 Sample Calculations 2 Graphical Analysis of Vectors 10 Mathematical Resolution of Resultant Vectors 10 Parent Student Signature Page 5 Total Points / 60