Life in the Fast Lane
Recommended for grades 9–12.
Introduction
Car Chase Dead Ends: Police left empty handed as thieves escape on pier
HARBERTVILLE, Friday: Downtown was thrown into chaos last night as a dramatic police chase snarled traffic and sent pedestrians diving for cover. The chase was a result of a robbery at the First United Bank on Maple Blvd. Three burglars robbed the bank and escaped in an unmarked black luxury sedan. The pursuing officers could not determine the exact make and model of the car or read the dealer’s license plate taped to the back window. The police lost sight of the vehicle after the thieves reached the waterfront, skidded to a stop near the end of the pier, and turned into the adjacent loading docks.
Objectives
- Determine the speed of a vehicle before its brakes were applied.
- Determine the coefficient of friction between a vehicle and a road surface.
- Convert between SI units and Imperial units.
- Rearrange equations to solve for different variables.
Sensors and Equipment
This experiment requires each of the following Vernier sensors and equipment (unless otherwise noted):
Additional Requirements
You may also need an interface and software for data collection. What do I need for data collection?
Download Experiment Preview
The student-version preview includes:
- Step-by-step instructions for computer-based data collection
- List of materials and equipment
Note: The experiment preview of the computer edition does not include essential teacher information, safety tips, or sample data. Instructions for Logger Pro and other software (such as LabQuest App or TI handheld software, where available) are on the CD that accompanies the book. We strongly recommend that you purchase the book before performing experiments.
Standards Correlations
Included in the Lab Book
Vernier lab books include a CD with word-processing files of the student instructions, essential teacher information, suggested answers, sample data and graphs, and more.