Introduction

We've been using running as a common example of motion so let's continue! Think about runners as they begin a race all the way up to the point they cross the finish line.

As we describe their motion, we can say they are at rest motionless at the start line before accelerating as they race down the track. We also can list what their speed was as they moved through the race or we may comment on the distance they traveled.

runners lined up at the starting line



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Remember, this unit is all about motion and ways we can describe that motion. Last lesson you learned about distance and displacement as ways to describe motion. It's now time to add three more quantities on to those:

  • speed,
  • velocity, and
  • acceleration


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Lesson Objectives

Following successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to...

  • Apply basic concepts of speed, velocity, and acceleration

Enduring Understandings

  • An understanding of the principles of mechanics can sharpen students' awareness of nature.
  • Unbalanced forces lead to a change of motion.
  • Newton's second law of motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration.

The above objectives correspond with the Alabama Course of Study: Physical Science standards: 7.

This lesson incorporates the following Literacy Standards: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R10, W1, W2, W3, W4, W9, and W10.

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