Demonstration, measuring time with a stick

[flatmaster]

Tueseday, I go to Auburn to interview for an open position in Alabama Science in Motion.

http://www.auburn.edu/academic/science_math/cosam/announcements/

Basically, I would be traveling around high schools, moving equipment, doing demonstrations, and developing new labs.

I need to come up with a <30 minute presentation as if to a high school audience. My idea is...

Measuring reaction time with a meter stick. The equation for time is easy to derive.
y=yo + vt + .5gt^2
t = Sqrt(2y/g)

After taking data, we could discuss how many data points are needed, the difference between accuracy and precision, standard deviation, any number of things.

Also, how else could you use a stick to measure time?

If it's sunny, it could be a sundial,
use it as a pendulum, make your own time unit of "stick swings"

ok, my questions are...

Is this a good idea? So far, I don't have 30 minutes yet, what could I fill with.
This activity would obviously be fun and engaging, but is there enough physics in it?
Any other ideas?
If I do stick on this track, How else could you measure time with a meter stick?

 

[AndyW]

First of all, congratulations on your upcoming interview for the open position in Alabama Science in Motion! It sounds like a very exciting opportunity.

Your idea for a presentation on measuring reaction time with a meter stick is definitely a good one. It is a simple yet effective way to introduce high school students to the concept of time measurement and the physics behind it. The equation you provided is a great starting point for students to understand the relationship between distance, time, and acceleration due to gravity.

To fill the entire 30 minutes, you could start by explaining the importance of measuring time in science and everyday life. This could lead to a discussion on the history of time measurement and how it has evolved over time. You could also discuss the different units of time and how they are used in different scientific fields.

In terms of physics, you could elaborate on the concept of acceleration due to gravity and how it affects the time measurements in your experiment. You could also discuss the concept of free fall and how it relates to the equation you provided.

As for other ideas, you could consider incorporating other types of time measurement activities using a meter stick. For example, you could demonstrate how to measure the speed of an object using the same equation and a stopwatch. You could also discuss the concept of periodic motion and how it can be measured using a pendulum made from a meter stick.

Overall, your idea for a presentation is a good one and with some additional elements, it can definitely fill the 30 minutes and provide a solid introduction to the concept of time measurement and its relationship with physics. Best of luck with your interview!

 

[sir-pinski]

First of all, it's great that you have a specific idea in mind for your presentation. Using a stick to measure time is a creative and interactive way to demonstrate the concept to high school students.

To make your presentation more engaging and informative, you could start off by explaining the importance of measuring time in science and everyday life. This could lead into a discussion on different tools and methods used for measuring time, and how the stick can be a simple yet effective tool for this purpose.

In addition to measuring reaction time, you could also explore other ways to use a stick to measure time. For example, you could talk about using a stick as a sundial and how it works based on the position of the sun. You could also demonstrate how a pendulum can be made using a stick and how its motion can be used to measure time.

To add more depth to your presentation, you could also discuss the history of time measurement and how it has evolved over time. This could include a brief introduction to the different units of time and how they are defined.

In terms of filling up the full 30 minutes, you could include a hands-on activity where students can measure their own reaction time using the stick. This could also be a good opportunity to discuss the importance of collecting multiple data points and calculating standard deviation for accuracy and precision.

Overall, this is a good idea for a presentation and with some additional research and activities, you can definitely fill up the time and make it more engaging for the audience. Good luck with your interview!