It's Race Day
Recommended for grades 6–12.
Introduction
Air resistance, mass and friction are some factors that influence the speed of a soapbox racer. The same factors influence the speed of a lab car going down a ramp. In this contest, you will use principles you have learned in science as you race a car down a ramp. The fastest car will be the one that reaches the highest maximum velocity going down the ramp. Velocity will be measured with a computer-interfaced Motion Detector.
Objectives
In this contest, you will
- Apply motion concepts.
- Measure velocity.
- Have a little fun.
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
See all standards correlations for Physical Science with Vernier »
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.