Methods 2: Week 3

    Week 3

1. The big question addressed in lab, and a description of what you did.

    This week in Lab, we were tasked with selecting a question that could we test relating to a slide, and then using a model to answer it. Our group decided to answer the question, “How does the material of the slide impact speed.” For our model, we used a long wooden stick and a Hot Wheels track as a slide, a car as the person going down the slide, and then we used aluminum foil and paper to cover the wood stick. This experiment was very difficult to carry out, after we covered the “slide” with a new material, it became more difficult for the car to stay on it. Additionally, the car would partially fall off the track and drag which caused a lot of variation in our speeds. However, when the car had a smooth run, the times were fairly consistently. So we concluded that the material of a slide does not play much of a role in speed. Also, since slid the car down on it’s wheels, we realized at the end of the experiment that we actually tested the ability of the car to roll down the track not how well it slided. 

1. A description of what you learned in Thursday's lecture.

In the lab, we spent a lot of time breaking down what we saw in the slide experiment. First, we talked about height. From our data in the lab, we found that a slide with more height causes the rider to go faster. Then we discussed a question that became the focus for most of the lecture. The question was, “Would you accelerate faster on a taller or shorter slide?" The answer is the taller slide. This is because a taller slide is steeper, and there is more time for the rider to reach their maximum speed. We created graphs to represent a rider's speed as they went down a slide. Originally, I thought that the graph would be a straight line, but this is not the case because a straight line would not account for acceleration. It takes time for objects in motion to reach their maximum speed and slow down again. Next, we discussed forces, still in relation to a slide. When you are on a slide, there are two forces acting on you. Gravity is pushing you toward the ground, and the slide is pushing back, which is why you stay on the slide. Lastly, we talked about friction, which is a resisting force caused by things rubbing against each other. In terms of a slide, more friction will cause the rider to accelerate quickly. Finally, we discussed that weight does not play a role in your speed when using a slide. 

1. Answer questions about the weekly textbook reading:
1. What did you learn?

This week's pressbook reading expanded my knowledge of force. Newton’s First Law states that objects at rest remain at rest while objects in motion stay in motion (unless acted on by an outside force). Additionally, the chapter discussed Newton’s Second Law, which demonstrated the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration (force equals mass times acceleration). Newton’s Third Law discusses equal and opposite forces from interacting objects. Finally, from the reading, I learned about the role of friction in stopping moving objects. Other forces act on people or objects from a distance; this includes gravity and magnetism. 

1. What was most helpful?

I thought that the explanation of Newton’s law of motion was very helpful. I remember learning about the laws before, but I couldn’t have told you which was which. The reading was a nice refresher. Understanding the principles that dictate motion, including the role of intertia and the relationship between force and acceleration, is a foundation. The book also provided good examples, like a car crash or pulling a tablecloth off of a table. These examples helped me to better understand how these laws play out in the real world, which made it easier to understand.

1. What do you need more information on?

I believe that I have a fairly good understanding of force from the chapter. If there was something I would want more information on, I would say more practical examples from everyday situations. I would find it interesting to learn more about friction and the different types of friction. 

1. What questions/concerns/comments do you have?

In lab and lecture, we learned that weight does not play a role in speed when going down a slide. I would be interested to see how changing the shape of an object or person impacts their speed.