I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up!!

Maxine Edwards and Mary Teal
The Center for Advancement of Teaching

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I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up!!
Lesson Plan
Algebra 1 Level

1. Perform the experiment as follows:
   • Tape the motion detector, facing up, to the side of a table. It is very important that this be securely placed.
   • Make sure the motion detector is plugged into the SONIC port of the EA-100. DO NOT connect the EA-100 to the calculator.
   • To collect data points, use a meter stick to measure a specific height from the face of the motion detector. Record that height and use for all balls, or other objects, dropped.
   • To perform the experiment, drop the object onto the table, as close as possible to the motion detector, so that the object will remain within the cone of detection for as long as possible.
   • To operate the EA-100 manually, use the following keystrokes:

     KEYSTROKE                    	EXPLANATION
     a.  Press[SHIFT][MODE]	"Set-up"
     b.  Press [DATALOG] until "20 mSec" appears	"Next"  Press [DATALOG] several
         times until the sample time you want
         appears (20 mSec)
     c.  Press[TRIGGER]	Chooses the 20 mSec as the time
     d.  Press[DATALOG] until "10" appears	Press [DATALOG] several times until 
         the number of sample points you want 
         appears (10)
     e.  Press[TRIGGER]	Chooses 10 as the number of samples
     f.  Press [DATALOG] until 1 appears	"Next" Press [DATALOG] until you see
         the time consideration you want.  In this
         case, the time will be collected as data.
     g.  Press[TRIGGER]	Selects time consideration.
         Press[TRIGGER]	Begins sampling.  This means that it is time to drop the objects.  
     NOTE: It is imperative that the object be dropped as rapidly as possible following the pressing of the TRIGGER. 
     

2. Retrieve the data from the EA-100:
   a. Connect EA-100 to CFX-9850G using the data communication link.
   b. Turn on CFX-9850G and choose Run (1) from the menu.
   c. Press SHIFT VARS {PRGM}
   d. Press F6 (>) , then I/O {F4}
   e. Press Recu (F4) {Receive( }
   f. Press OPTN, List {F1}, List {F1} ,1, close Parenthesis { ) }
   g. Press SHIFT EXE {¿ }
   h. Press Recu (F4) {Receive( }
   i. Press OPTN, List {F1}, List {F1} ,2, close Parenthesis { ) }
   j. Press EXE
   
3. The data should now be listed in List 1 and List 2.
   
4. For the next part of the procedure you will be operating in the STAT menu.
   a. After entering the STAT menu, you should find List 1 through List 2. Press GRAPH {F1}
   b. Press SEL {F4}
   c. StatGraph 1 : DrawOn
   d. EXIT
   e. Press SET {F6}
   Graph Type: xyline
   Xlist : List 1
   Ylist : List 2
   Frequency : 1
   Mark Type : ×
   Graph Color: CHOICE
   f. EXIT
   g. GRPH 1 {F1}
   
   After the students have gotten a graph, use the graph to determine the time (x-axis) that the object traveled to the ground ( or lowest point.) Be sure that the students check each y-axis to insure that objects are being dropped from a uniform height. Students will check several different balls to determine whether the time remained constant.