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Home Interactives 1D Kinematics Graphs and Ramps Notes

Graphs and Ramps Notes

Notes:

The Graphs and Ramps Interactive is a re-scalable file that displays nicely on smart phones, on tablets such as the iPad, on Chromebooks, and on laptops and desktops. The size of the Interactive can be scaled to fit the device that it is displayed on. The compatibility with phones, iPads, other tablets, and Chromebooks make it a perfect tool for use in a 1:1 classroom.

Teaching Ideas and Suggestions:

This Interactive is intended for use near the middle to later stages of a learning cycle on kinematic graphing. It provides an invaluable formative assessment of how the shape and slope of a position-time and velocity-time graph relate to the motion of an object. Much thought must be given to how the incline angle of the ramp affects the slope of the graph and of how the direction that the ramp is inclined (up or down) affects the shape of the graphs. The need to make a graph in order to earn credit (i.e., a star) gives the Interactive a gamification style.The challenges are organized from the simplest to the most complex. The intention was that after labwork, instruction, and some practice with sketching the position-time and velocity-time graphs for several motions, a classroom could navigate to Graphs and Ramps and use the Interactive as an assessment/learning tool. The availability of the stars on the main menu allows a teacher to quickly check-off progress on a per-student basis (if desired).

Related Resources:

There are numerous resources at The Physics Classroom website that serve as very complementary supports for the Graphs and Ramps Interactive. These include:
  • Minds On Physics Internet Modules:
    The Minds On Physics Internet Modules include a collection of interactive questioning modules that help learners assess their understanding of physics concepts and solidify those understandings by answering questions that require higher-order thinking. Just about any of the 11 assignments info the Kinematic Graphing module provide great complements to this Interactive. They are best used in the middle to later stages of the learning cycle. Visit the Minds On Physics Internet Modules.

     
  • Animation: Numerous GIF Animations at The Multimedia Physics Studios
    The 1D Kinematics section of the Multimedia Physics Studios has several instructive animations that animate the motion of an object and show the corresponding position-time and velocity-time graphs for that motion. Visit the Multimedia Physics Studios.

     
  • Curriculum/Practice: Several Concept Development worksheets at the Curriculum Corner will be very useful in assisting students in cultivating their understanding, most notably ...

    Describing Motion with Position-Time Graphs
    Describing Motion with Velocity-Time Graphs
    Describing Motion Graphically
    Interpreting Velocity-Time Graphs
    Graphing Summary

    Visit the Curriculum Corner.

     
  • Labwork:
    Simulations should always support (never supplant) hands-on learning. The Laboratory section of The Physics Classroom website includes several hands-on ideas that complement this Interactive. Three notable lab ideas include ...

    Position-Time Graphs Lab
    Velocity-Time Graphs Lab
    Match That Graph Lab

    Visit The Laboratory.
  • Science Reasoning Activities:
    Science classrooms should be filled with reasoning activities. There is one related activity in the Kinematics section of the Science Reasoning Center that will challenge students to employ close reading, data analysis, and logical reasoning. The activity is named ...

    Velocity-Time Graphs

    Visit the Science Reasoning Center.

Additional resources and ideas for incorporating Graphs and Ramps into an instructional unit on kinematic graphing can be found at the Teacher Toolkits section of The Physics Classroom website. Visit Teacher Toolkits.

Visit: Graphs and Ramps Interactive