Speed and Gradient

This module from the Nuffield Foundation gives an attempt to relate the gradient of a graph to the rate of displacement of an object which moves with time. This can be summed up in the phrase 'faster is steeper'. The module is in three sections, each of which is based on a simple piece of practical equipment which the students need to make or have provided for them. These activities on the worksheets could be used independently to support understanding or as activities in a maths/science club.

The resource includes:

*Notes for the teacher including a brief overview of the content of the work.

*1. A riffle book: instructions on making a riffle book to show a ‘plant’ growing. Transfer of information from the riffle book to a graph.

*2. The graph machine: instruction to make a graph machine. Interpreting the traces from the graph machine.

*3. The moon crawler: making a moon crawler (cotton reel, rubber band, pencil etc.). Recording and graphing the results of the moon crawler’s motion, obtaining the velocity from the gradient of the graph.