Aprendizaje Basado En Proyectos

Student’s Guide










Measuring the Mass of a Car


Nathaniel Lasry
John Abbott College[pic]


Measuring the Mass of a Car

Context

You have been given the following challenge: Determine the mass of a car.



At your disposal is a collection of objects that you might find in aphysics laboratory:

• Measuring tape
• Optical laser pointers
• Bathroom scales
• Vernier caliper (What’s that?)
• Position markers (e.g., bean bags)
• Referenceweights
• String
• Stopwatch
• …



There are few rules in this challenge:

1. You are not allowed to start the car, although you do have access to the keys.

2. You cannot useany of the on-board instruments, such as the speedometer.

3. To carry out the measurement, teams of no more than six competitors are allowed. On the day of the competition, you will have accessto a strip in the parking lot on which the car will be able to move. Performance is marked on the accuracy, originality and simplicity of the measurement.

4. You are not allowed to damage thecar.

Three-Step Cycle

List all the revelant information you have gathered from the problem. Based on this information, state what you need to know to solve the problem. As new information comesin, you will want to summarize and update the relevant information you have gathered and ask new questions.

List the following:

|What we know |What we need toknow |Summary |
| | ||




Questions (optional)

1) Explain the difference between weight and mass.










2) What is the unit of measurement of:

a) mass_______ b)...