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Book Chapter | September 2014
Phenomenon-based learning (PBL) is built on observations of real-world phenomena. PBL is not so much a teaching method as it is a route to grasping the big picture and is an approach that is fun and interesting for both…
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Book Chapter | May 2009
This lab is purely a thought experiment. Although students are given an introduction to angular speed and tangential speed, they will discover the relationship between the two in this activity. The lab is an inquiry…
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Book Chapter | May 2009
This lab is not an inquiry activity but will help students understand the meaning of average velocity. Students do not easily understand from a textbook that an object’s velocity changes over a period of acceleration.…
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Book Chapter | May 2009
This lab is not an inquiry activity. Without a motion sensor, the students cannot determine independently that the final velocity is double the average velocity. This activity does, however, make this concept concrete…
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Book Chapter | May 2010
The purpose of this assessment probe is to determine whether students recognize that there is a variety of measurement units, described as ratios, that can be used to express average speed, even though some units may…
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Book Chapter | March 2011
This activity is designed to help students understand that light does have a finite speed and that this has consequences for us. In order to grasp the meaning of the activity, it is important for students to understand…
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Book Chapter | January 2006
Although faster-than-light travel is commonplace in science fiction, ordinary matter in the ordinary world must obey the laws of physics. The speed of light is the speed limit in the Universe. Only massless particles…
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Calculating the Speed of Sound
Book Chapter | May 2009
Who hasn’t seen a dramatic flash of lightning, only to hear the dramatic “crack” of thunder several seconds later? But why does the thunder reach our ears after we see the lightning? Or, why does the sound of a high-…
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Book Chapter | March 2017
This high school physical science lesson has the following learning goals for students: design and conduct an investigation to determine the speed of sound in air; interpret their experimental results; and explain…
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A Need for Speed? Should Speed Limits Be Lowered to Reduce Traffic Fatalities?
Book Chapter | February 2014
During this unit, students will investigate physical science concepts related to forces and motion. They will then synthesize and apply their learning to grapple with the question of whether speed limits should be…
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Speeding Ahead–The Maglevacation Train Challenge
Book Chapter | August 2017
In this lesson, students apply their knowledge of mapping, geography, trains, and science concepts related to magnetism and speed to design their Maglevacation Trains. Each student team will design and build its train…
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A Teamwork-Based Technique Using Agricultural Fields to Measure the Speed of Sound
Journal Article | October 2022
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Quickly Teaching Speed, Velocity, and Acceleration—Part 2
Journal Article | February 2020
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Journal Article | March 2022
This study investigated the stability and persistence of prospective elementary teachers’ conceptual understanding of average speed. A questionnaire containing two questions about average speed was administered to the…
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Quickly Teaching Speed, Velocity, and Acceleration—Part 2
Journal Article | March 2019
In the February 2019 issue we looked at teaching speed and velocity. Now we’re ready to tackle acceleration.