In this activity, students investigate the acceleration of falling objects by observing objects of different masses and surface areas as they fall. They build a computer model to represent the relationships they observe, and they use the model to test various hypotheses.

TEACHER RESOURCES Teacher Materials Student Activity Student Assessment Learning Goals/Standards COMPUTER MODELS STELLA Versions isee Player software Right-click to download the models PC Format Mac Format Vensim Versions Vensim PLE Software Right-click to download the model Free Fall

THE MODEL DIAGRAM THE EQUATIONS height(t) = height(t - dt) + (rate_of_change_of_height) * dt INIT height = 100 rate_of_change_of_height = velocity velocity(t) = velocity(t - dt) + (rate_of_change_of_velocity) * dt INIT velocity = 0 rate_of_change_of_velocity = acceleration_due_to_gravity acceleration_due_to_gravity = -9.8

THE OUTPUT

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