Teachers' Domain: Virtual Car-Velocity and Acceleration

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published by the WGBH

This Flash simulation demonstrates how vectors are used to represent velocity. As students drive a virtual car on a flat surface, vectors change in response to the changes in speed and direction. A graph of speed vs. time is displayed in real-time as the car is maneuvered. This resource can be adapted for use in middle school, Physics First, and conceptual physics courses. Background information and discussion questions are also provided.

Teachers' Domain is an NSF-funded pathway of the National Science Digital Library (NSDL). It is a growing collection of more than 10,000 free educational resources compiled by researchers and experienced teachers to promote the use of digital resources in the classroom.

Please note that this resource requires Flash.

http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.mfw.accel/

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Classical Mechanics - Motion in One Dimension = Acceleration = Velocity Education Practices - Technology = Multimedia Mathematical Tools - Vector Algebra	- Middle School - High School	- Instructional Material = Activity = Simulation

Appropriate Courses	Categories	Ratings
- Physical Science - Physics First - Conceptual Physics	- Activity - New teachers	Currently 0.0/5 Want to rate this material? Login here!

Intended Users:: Learner
Educator
Format:: application/flash
Access Rights:: Free access
Restriction:: © 2004 http://www.wisc-online.com/copyright.asp
Keywords:: acceleration, graphing, simulation, velocity vector
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created December 10, 2008 by Caroline Hall
Record Updated:: February 5, 2013 by Caroline Hall
Last Update when Cataloged:: March 17, 2008

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AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008 Version)

2. The Nature of Mathematics

2B. Mathematics, Science, and Technology

9-12: 2B/H3. Mathematics provides a precise language to describe objects and events and the relationships among them. In addition, mathematics provides tools for solving problems, analyzing data, and making logical arguments.

4. The Physical Setting

4F. Motion

6-8: 4F/M3a. An unbalanced force acting on an object changes its speed or direction of motion, or both.
9-12: 4F/H8. Any object maintains a constant speed and direction of motion unless an unbalanced outside force acts on it.

11. Common Themes

11B. Models

6-8: 11B/M2. Mathematical models can be displayed on a computer and then modified to see what happens.

Common Core State Standards for Mathematics Alignments

High School — Number and Quantity (9-12)

Vector and Matrix Quantities (9-12)

N-VM.1 (+) Recognize vector quantities as having both magnitude and direction. Represent vector quantities by directed line segments, and use appropriate symbols for vectors and their magnitudes (e.g., v, |v|, ||v||, v).

This resource is part of a Physics Front Topical Unit.

Topic: Kinematics: The Physics of Motion
Unit Title: Vectors

It can be difficult for beginning students to understand what a vector represents. This fun simulation allows them to watch vectors change as they drive a virtual car. Speed vs. Time is also displayed in a real-time companion graph.

Link to Unit:

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Record Link

<a href="http://www.thephysicsfront.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=8381">WGBH Educational Foundation. Teachers' Domain: Virtual Car-Velocity and Acceleration. Boston: WGBH Educational Foundation, March 17, 2008.</a>

AIP Format

Teachers' Domain: Virtual Car-Velocity and Acceleration (WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston, 2004), WWW Document, (http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.mfw.accel/).

AJP/PRST-PER

Teachers' Domain: Virtual Car-Velocity and Acceleration (WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston, 2004), <http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.mfw.accel/>.

APA Format

Teachers' Domain: Virtual Car-Velocity and Acceleration. (2008, March 17). Retrieved May 23, 2013, from WGBH Educational Foundation: http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.mfw.accel/

Chicago Format

WGBH Educational Foundation. Teachers' Domain: Virtual Car-Velocity and Acceleration. Boston: WGBH Educational Foundation, March 17, 2008. http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.mfw.accel/ (accessed 23 May 2013).

MLA Format

Teachers' Domain: Virtual Car-Velocity and Acceleration. Boston: WGBH Educational Foundation, 2004. 17 Mar. 2008. 23 May 2013 <http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.mfw.accel/>.

BibTeX Export Format

@misc{ Title = {Teachers' Domain: Virtual Car-Velocity and Acceleration}, Publisher = {WGBH Educational Foundation}, Volume = {2013}, Number = {23 May 2013}, Month = {March 17, 2008}, Year = {2004} }

Refer Export Format

%T Teachers' Domain: Virtual Car-Velocity and Acceleration
%D March 17, 2008
%I WGBH Educational Foundation
%C Boston
%U http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.mfw.accel/
%O application/flash

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source
%D March 17, 2008
%T Teachers' Domain: Virtual Car-Velocity and Acceleration
%I WGBH Educational Foundation
%V 2013
%N 23 May 2013
%8 March 17, 2008
%9 application/flash
%U http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.mfw.accel/

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Citation Source Information

The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References.

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