Navigating Curves:

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A WebQuest

Introduction:

On our highway systems, drivers have to navigate around curves. On Wednesday, December 8, 1999 a tractor-trailer jackknifed and overturned, dumping nearly 5,000 gallons of hydrochloric acid onto a downtown San Antonio freeway ramp. The spill paralyzed a densely populated area north of downtown as authorities evacuated some 125 city blocks - including homes, schools and businesses - and sealed off sections of heavily traveled highways.

The Task:

You will be engaged in gathering information related to the subject of circular motion in general (centripetal force, centripetal acceleration, and factors that affect these quantities). Working together you will design a multi-platform presentation (video/ PowerPoint, news release) to convey the solution to navigating the I-35 to I-10 curve safely. Each of you will assume one of the following roles: photojournalist, city planner, highway engineer, and concerned citizen.

Questions:

Here are some questions that should be considered in your presentation.

1. What factors affect the navigation of a curve?

2. Which of the factors can be altered to contribute to making a curve safer?

3. How cost effective would these changes be?

4. Will possible changes affect the community and how?

The Process:

1. Within your group, choose from the suggested roles. (You need one role each)

Photojournalist- Interviewer for the group presentation and responsible for the written news release as well as any graphics.

City Planner- Find information about the location of the curve including the layout of the area, evaluate building costs.

Highway Engineer- Research the factors that affect the safe navigation of curves.

Concerned Citizen- Responsible for script for presentation.

2. With your role in mind, explore the suggested links, Appendices, and any other sources you find to acquire the background knowledge you need.

3. After you have collected your information, meet with your group to decide what solution your group wants to include in your final project. Make a model that incorporates the variables that affect the safe navigation of this curve.

4. Create an introduction to your project. Who are you? What are you doing?

5. With your group, create a script for a newscast… the Photojournalist needs to have questions that he will pose to the other four members of the group, and transitions from one to the next. The script must show an understanding of the physics behind the problem of the curve and present supporting evidence as to why the solution chosen is the best one.

6. Perform your script in class or have a video of the presentation.

7. Synthesize your information and solution into a written news release.

Resources:

Types of Curves

http://www.adtdl.army.mil/cgi-bin/atdl.dll/fm/5-233/Ch3.htm

Banked Curve Simulation

http://phywww1.ncssm.edu/physics/physlets/CURVE/curveintro.htm

Animation and Background

http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/mmedia/circmot/ucm.html

Background and Check for your Understanding:

http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/circles/u6l1e.html

General information

http://oldsci.eiu.edu/physics/DDavis/1150/05UCMGrav/Curve.html

Interactive Highway Safety

http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/pr97-10/p47.htm

General information

http://www.pen.k12.va.us/Anthology/Pav/Science/Physics/book/curve.f/curves.html

Advice:

You will find that your resources overlap and if you collaborate on the information obtained by each member of the group your project will be more successful. Keep track of where you found your information, pictures, and statistics because you need to cite your sources.

Conclusion:

When you complete this assignment, you will have acquired more knowledge about the physics of navigating problem curves and possible solutions. As a member of society, you should be a responsible citizen who is informed and proposes solutions based on evidence.