moving car on rocket

[Sandy Shutey]

The students started this activity today where the car is placed on the moving rocket and the velocity found. 

If anyone has done this, did you have any tricks for keeping the car on the rocket? or for finding the speeds for both car and rocket while moving? 


I like the concept and the kids are really having to think about what is happening (they also like to play with the car).  It is really changing the way they are thinking>

[Jeff Briggs]

 
  Sandy -

  My class didn't do very well with this activity.  They thought that the rockets were a bit hokey.  They understood what we were trying to do, they just thought it wasn't the best model.  My students are all juniors or seniors, so they're more sensitive to such things.  Ninth graders, OTOH, might do OK with the rocket idea.

  What I plan to do next year is to bring in a wagon or make carts (to be used in other activities as well) that illustrate the same idea in perhaps a better form.

  - Jeff

[Sandy Shutey]

Thanks,
I never thought about a cart - I wonder if the skate board from Chapter 1 would work?