Frames of Reference
Hook
Start the lesson by asking the students how fast they are moving. Their typical response is that it is zero, that they are not moving. But in reality we are all moving at about 30km/s around the Sun and 220km/s around the centre of the Milky Way. It is all a matter of perspective. Just like that when we are riding in a car it seems that the trees are moving because from the car's passenger that is the reality. Frames of reference are very important. It is much easier to study the effects of motions from a frame of reference that is not undergoing acceleration, this is called an inertial frame of reference. Frames of reference that undergoes acceleration are referred to as non-inertail frames of reference. |
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http://www.wiley.com/college/halliday/0470469080/simulations/sim45/sim45.html
http://www.amnh.org/learn/pd/physical_science/week2/frame_reference.html
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Pedagogical Approach
Simulation Activity: Frames of Reference 1 Frames of Reference 2 Frames of reference are tend to be confusing for some students so it is important to take the time to explain these properly and have students explore them using simulation. Both of these simulation provide example of various frames of reference and both inertial and non-intertial. These simulations will work well for assessment as learning. You can use exit slip as assessment for learning, allowing students to be responsible for their learning and understanding while they run these simulations. |
Consolidation
Exit Slip: Describe two situation as seen from two reference frame, one inertial and one non-inertial. |