Speed (Teacher Sheet)

Activity

Speed (teacher sheet)

The aim of the activity is for students to understand that speed depends on the distance travelled in a given time. One of the speed cards is given in different units, so that they gain an appreciation that units must be the same to compare speeds (and how speed can be converted from m/s to kmph). It will also enable them to rearrange the speed equation to find distance travelled.

Each group will need a set of cards – given on page 3 in the correct combination, so don’t forget to shuffle them before handing out.

Answers

1Ask students to identify the odd card out; the 10m/s speed one.

2They can then either convert to kmph (divide by 10 to turn m to km and multiply by 360 to convert s to hours; they then divide km by hours).

100m = 0.1km; 10/3600 = 0.0028m/hr; so km/h = 0.1/0.0028 = 35.7

3 Here are the activities and speed correctly matched:

Activity / Speed
The maximum legal speed of a car travelling on the M6 motorway / 70 mph
112.6 kmph
An Olympic 100m sprinter winning the gold medal / 10s/100m
A cheetah running / 71.5mph
115 kmph
Peregrine falcon in hunting dive / 200mph
320kmph
An Intercity train travelling through the countryside from London to Glasgow / 125 mph
201kmph
James Bond being chased in a speed boat / 160mph
260kmph
A sailfish swimming through the ocean / 70mph
112.6kmph
An army helicopter travelling to rescue someone from the sea / 102mph
164kmph

4Once students have sorted the cards, check the order and discuss which answers surprise them and why. They may not appreciate that cars can travel faster than the speed limit – they may not be aware of what this is. They may also be surprised that the car and the sailfish can travel at the same speed. You might want to get them to compare – for example the cheetah is twice as fast as an Olympic sprinter.

5Students record the speeds on a straight line drawn in their books and starting at 0 and extending to 320kmph (slowest to fastest). Depending on the ability of the group, you might want to give them guidance on scaling this and you may need to remind them not to mix units.

6For the last question, students will need to re-arrange the speed equation to make distance the subject:

Again, they may need guidance to ensure they convert minutes to hours.

What is moving / Speed km/hr / Distance after 2hrs (m) / Distance after 15minutes (0.25hrs) (m)
Car/sailfish / 112.6 / 225.2 / 28.15
Olympic runner / 35.7 / 71.4 / 8.93
Cheetah / 115 / 230 / 28.75
Peregrine / 320 / 640 / 80
Intercity train / 201 / 402 / 50.25
Speed boat / 260 / 520 / 65
Army helicopter / 164 / 328 / 41
The maximum legal speed of a car travelling on the M6 motorway / 70 mph
112.6 kmph
An Olympic 100m sprinter winning the gold medal / 10s/100m
A cheetah running / 71.5mph
115 kmph
A peregrine falcon in hunting dive / 200mph
320kmph
An intercity train travelling through the countryside from London to Glasgow / 125 mph
201kmph
James Bond being chased in a speed boat / 160mph
260kmph
A sailfish swimming through the ocean / 70mph
112.6kmph
An army helicopter travelling to rescue someone from the sea / 102mph
164kmph