Teaching Motion with the Air Puck

Teaching Motion with the Air Puck

Lab 1 (middle school)

Objective:   
When the force of a push or a pull acts on an object how is the motion of the object affected. Can you identify three different ways an objects motion can be made to change, when a force acts on an object? How is the direction of a force related to the change in motion of an object?

Lab 2 (high school)

Objective:
In studying motion of objects, many times it is difficult to quantitatively measure objects on Earth because of ever-present friction issues. Often, our data and results are skewed due to these factors and generalization of the data is required in order to reach successful conclusions. The ability to minimize friction is a constant problem throughout the Physics lab; using "frictionless" carts or cars with "frictionless" ball-bearings frequently do not ease the errors that occur during any motion experiment. By using the Arbor "mini" Air Puck, many of the experiments that are performed in the lab requiring accurate data readings and results can now be attained. Using the Air Puck which can best simulate a "frictionless" surface, you and your partner can investigate and determine the following in a 4 part series of experiments:

  1. Newton's Laws of Motion
  2. Significant Figures and Units for Motion
  3. Initial Velocity, Final Velocity & Average Velocity
  4. Acceleration

Required Equipment

Arbor Scientific Air Puck Physics Kit
Arbor Scientific Air Puck Physics Kit
Arbor Scientific Air Puck Physics Kit

January 01, 2011 Collin Wassilak

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