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Introduction |
Students are frequently asked to calculate velocities, accelerations and forces in introductory physics courses. Many times problems and calculations are placed within a “real world” context (such as velocity and acceleration of cars or amusement park physics) to help students realize that physics is all around them. Rarely are students asked to understand or show the relationships that exist between such quantities; rather they solve problems and use equations in isolation. In this computational science module, students will be asked to consider the relationship between velocities, accelerations and forces as they investigate a simulated rapid braking event (RBE) to determine the initial velocity of a car based upon the length of skid marks.
To help students visualize these relationships, a simple computational model will be used. Students will be able to vary the data entered in the model and draw conclusions about the effect certain variables have upon a car involved in an RBE. The equations used in the model and the coefficient of friction used are based upon the physics used by accident reconstructionists. The modeling technique used in this module is an Excel 2000 spreadsheet/graphing program with embedded macros.