Study Constant Acceleration using Student Motion

The Teaching Challenge

Constant acceleration can be difficult to teach because students don't often internalize the constant acceleration demonstrations and experiments they see or perform in a way that allows true understanding to occur.

The PASCO Solution

How It Works

The most engaging way to teach constant acceleration.

A motion detector is connected to a computer interface and fixed so that it can record the motion of a student. (A computer is preferred over an Xplorer GLX because the students need to be able to see the data plot as they walk.) Students walk back and forth a few times in front of the detector to get a feel for how their motion is recorded and displayed.

Students then try to accelerate constantly away from or toward the Motion Detector. Data plots representing ideal cases of constant velocity and constant acceleration motion can then be displayed on the screen, and the students instructed to walk to match the ideal plots as best they can. Having to cause themselves to move with a constant acceleration--even changing direction in doing so--is a great way to drive home the concept of constant acceleration and what it means.