Students explore falling objects (tossing a ball, and objects falling with non-negligible air resistance) by constructing computer models and by analysing digital videos of their motion.
Students are introduced to a microworld where they can model free fall. This microworld enables students to build computational models of falling objects using the algebra of a simple finite step numerical integration. So, calculus is not required as a pre-requisite.
Students use Logger Pro to perform a video analysis of falling objects to measure position, velocity and acceleration of the object. The experimental data are confronted with the previsions of the models built.
Educational Object Link