2. Free Fall with Air Resistance

Stephen Dickman, Jacob Kelter
Physics
Estimated time for students: two 45 minute periods.
AP Physics 1
v3
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Overview

Students will take data from a model of a ball falling on Earth undergoing air resistance. The student will be able to control the mass of one ball and compare it to the fall rate of another ball of greater or less mass. The balls have the same surface area. The students will observe motion graphs and make predictions based on Newton's 2nd Law.

In addition, students will see how code is used to model Newton's Laws.

Underlying Pages

Standards

Computational Thinking in STEM 2.0
  •   Computational Modeling and Simulation Practices
    • [CT-MODEL-1] Using computational models to understand a complex phenomenon
    • [CT-MODEL-2] Using computational models to hypothesize and test predictions
    • [CT-MODEL-3] Using a computational tool to understand a system's compenents and dynamics
Next Generation Science Standards
  •   Physical Science
    • [HS-PS2-1] Analyze data to support the claim that Newton’s second law of motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration.
    • [MS-PS4-2] Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.

Credits

This model was created by Stephen Dickman, Jacob Kelter and Kelvin Lao.

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