For the Student

Resources:

Off-line:

• Pendulum experiment apparatus
  • string
  • weights of various sizes
  • stand
  • stop watch
• Excel spreadsheet software
• STELLA modeling software
• Access to a computer lab

On-line:

Acess to computer connected to the Internet

Student Tasks:

1. Students will conduct inquiry-based experiments with periodic motion using pendulums. In the experiments the students will vary the length of the string, the weights attached to the string, and the height of release.

2. Students will collect data from their experiments.

3. Students will learn/review basic spreadsheet skills in a computer lab.

4. Students will put their data in a spreadsheet such as Excel.

5. Students will use their spreadsheet to analyze the effects of changes in the length of the string, the weights attached, and the height of release.

6. Students will make graphs of the spreadsheet data. They will generate an equation from their graphs.

7. Students will record their observations in a lab report and report their findings.

8. Students will conduct online research on pendulums.

9. Students will construct a STELLA model of a Deer Population problem as an introduction to STELLA modeling.

10. Students will make a model of a simple flow rate problem using STELLA.

11. Students will build a STELLA model of the period of a pendulum.

Text in this color is optional, depending upon student's familiarity with STELLA.