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Tuesday, October 7th, 2014
Distance vs. Time Graphs Lab
Today in physics class we finished our "Distance vs. Time Graphs" lab from yesterday. The lab involved graphs (specifically distance versus time) that we had to replicate on a computer program using a motion sensor that tracks and plots data. We were also asked to explain how we created the replicas of each graph, so we had to describe our movement near the sensor. Did we move backwards or forwards? Did we have to go fast or stay still for a while? Was our graph positive or negative? Etc. And we had a total of seven graphs to work with. Also, some questions were answered about the graphs' characteristics and we played a little game where we had to match a different graph by trying to recreate the graph with our own movement near the sensor.
These types of graphs would be necessary for a science class, especially ours, because in physics distance, time, speed, acceleration, velocity - all those things are big focuses in a physics class, and most of the time those things require graphing to display your data. And in science data is a crucial key to proving your point and what not. We want to record things like distance and time to get a better idea of what we are focusing on. Plus, in physics we will constantly be exploring new focuses and all data will be accounted for with each focus. And the data will usually be graphed.
Distance vs. time graphs are also really main graphs since most of the things people study in science involve distance and time, even if you are learning about something else. They are necessary to show our mathematical skills too. And showing your knowledge on trend lines and what not is key to prove points and understand things better, it also makes things easier in a science class.
We also might be focusing a lot on motion for our first part of the year and most motion topics involve things like speed and what not, so representing what we are learning is important too. And maybe most of our labs and stuff will involve moving things so distance vs. time is easy to graph for such labs. Plus these graphs personally help me better understand the relationship of d and t and they give a good idea about the distance and time of things. I mean I can look at a graph and think "ah, if x is increasing and y this thing is doing this" or "this thing is doing that."
Most things in physics and science in general have motion and graphs represent the journey of those objects, comparing the journeys can help illustrate differences between certain things like say distance and displacement or velocity, speed, and acceleration.
Maybe it is on the MCAS/PARC and so it is vital that we learn it. Maybe it is important that we show the relationship between the things being graphed or maybe representing data in various forms is important in a science class. Possibly it shows a lot of good logic which is huge in science. It could be all of this, but I know that "___ versus ___" graphs are common and important in generally all science classes. Last year we had graphs to show change in temperature over time and we did that to add onto our study of heat transfer. This year we might need to show change in x vs. y to add onto our focal points of study.
To add on, the graphs show a change in y/x and can be represented in many ways, plus most of the things we measure have variables in science if not all.
In science we want to better understand our world and the science of it and since these graphs kind of relate to real life scenarios it might help us get a better understanding of some real life situations and it might help us in the real world. And science is usually all around us. I know that knowing small things like "hot goes to cold" helps me because then I can logically try to figure something out to get warm or cold. Maybe it is the same with these graphs since classes prepare us for bigger things - not just tests or something.
Regardless, these graphs can be very useful and are going to be most likely used a lot in our class and are probably used in many other science classes.
--Buonasera :3 <3
("Pfft! Screw gravity! >U *levitates into the night*")
--Ooviya =^w^=
Oh! I wish we could decide when we want gravity and when we don't!! That would be soooooo cool!
ReplyDeleteSame here!! :33 Yes x3, and very floaty :-DD.
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