Speed, time and velocity

I do speed distance time stuff by timing how long it takes for kids to move across room. Hopping, walking backwards, pigeon steps, threelegged, blindfolded etc.. Potential for disaster so clear a pathway and insist on no poking or prodding. Always get a clown to do pigeonsteps as the faster they try to go the sillier thay look as there bum wiggles around!

Reaction times, challenge pupils to catch 5 euro note held just above their hand. Make sure their hand is on the table so they cant move it down and they use finger and thumb only. If they catch it they can keep it. (I used a printed fake)

Distance Time Graphs

Materials: remote control vehicle, lots of different materials eg. lino, grass, carpet etc. (all of the same length), multiple stop watches.

Set up: select one driver of vehicle. Set up a race track of the materials around the room. Position one student (with stop clock) where one material meets another. COntinue so that all 'material joins' have one student stationed there.

The experiment:Shout 'START'; simultaneously the car starts and all timers start their stop clocks. The timers only stop their stop clock when the car passes in front of them. At the end all students stay where they are and one student goes along the track collecting all of the results into a table. Repeat three times.

Analysis: plot a distance-time graph. Mark on the locations of the different materials; discuss friction.