MPE Student Traffic

MPE Student Traffic

Problem:

Ms. Pitts is worried about student traffic patterns. She noticed that many Manassas Park Elementary students walk at different speeds, at different points along the main hallway.

What are at least three (3) reasons that a students’ speed might change along the hall?

How could we design an experiment to check for high traffic areas (areas where people walk more slowly)?

Tools that can be used:

Hypothesis to test: ______

______

Set up the course (experiment):

Location / Describe using words this point along the MPE hallway(s)
A
(Start)
B
C
D
E
F
(Finish)

What is the constant (fixed/independent variable)?

What is the response (dependent) variable?

What moving object(s) are you measuring? In what frame of reference does it move?

How will you determine the object’s speed?

Data Table:

Walking from point to point along school / Distance
(unit of measure)
( ) / Time
(unit of measure)
( ) / Speed
(unit of measure)
( )
A à B
B à C
C à D
D à E
E à F
Total Distance / Total Time / Average Speed

Did the object(s) move at a constant speed (circle one)? Yes No

Conclusion:

What area(s) of the main hall that might have student traffic problems?

How could we visually present our results to Ms. Pitts?

With your teacher’s help, get a laptop, and go to Createagraph.com.

·  Click on the type of graph on the “Design” tab.

·  Click the “Data” tab. Type in a graph title, X-axis label, and Y-axis label. The data set should be set for 5 “Items” and 1 “Groups.”

·  The class will discuss which data is entered into the Item Label (X-axis) and the Value (Y-axis). Be sure to have a teacher look over you’re your data entry.

·  Click on the “Preview” tab to look at your graph.

Is there another way that we could better present the data to Ms. Pitts? If so, how?

*Hint – You may be asked to try a second-type of graph to answer this question.

How could we have changed this experiment?

Bonus:

Complete the sentences below using the words in the box above. Each word is used only once.

1) Speed is calculated using ______and ______.

2) ______is the movement of an object.

3) ______is a force that slows a moving object.

4) Moving objects have ______energy.

Virginia SOL 4.1 & 4.2 NSF GK-12 SUNRISE Program