In this activity, students will apply their knowledge of kinematics to a tailgating problem. After testing individual reaction times and researching deceleration rates of various automobiles, they will use a computer model to test the safe following distance for a given situation. They will compare the results from the model to the safe following rule given to them in the driver's education classes.

TEACHER RESOURCES Teacher Materials Student Activity Student    Assessment Learning    Goals/Standards

COMPUTER MODEL STELLA Version isee Player Software Right-click to download the model Tailgate Model STELLA PC Tailgate Model STELLA Mac Web-based Simulation

COMPUTER MODEL Vensim Version Vensim PLE Software Right-click to download the model Tailgate Model Vensim

Based on Nicklin, R. C., "The Kinematics of Tailgating", The Physics Teacher, Vol 35, Feb 1997, p.78-79 THE MODEL DIAGRAM THE EQUATIONS Distance_Back_Car(t) = Distance_Back_Car(t - dt) + (Chg_Dist_Back) * dt INIT Distance_Back_Car = 0 Chg_Dist_Back = Velocity_Back_Car*1.47 Distance_Front_Car(t) = Distance_Front_Car(t - dt) + (Chg_Dist_Front) * dt INIT Distance_Front_Car = Carlengths_Between*16 Chg_Dist_Front = Velocity_Front_Car*1.47 Velocity_Back_Car(t) = Velocity_Back_Car(t - dt) + (- Decel_Back_Car) * dt INIT Velocity_Back_Car = Initial_Velocity_Back Decel_Back_Car = if time<(5+Rxn_Time_Back) then 0 else Decel_Rate_Back*0.682 Velocity_Front_Car(t) = Velocity_Front_Car(t - dt) + (- Decel_Front_Car) * dt INIT Velocity_Front_Car = Initial_Velocity_Front_mph Decel_Front_Car = IF time<5 then 0 else Decel_rate_Front*.682 Carlengths_Between = 4 Collision = if Collision_Velocity>0 then PAUSE else 0 Collision_Velocity = if (Distance_Front_Car-Distance_Back_Car)>0 then 0 else Relative_Velocity Decel_Rate_Back = 28 Decel_rate_Front = 28 Distance_Between = ABS(Distance_Front_Car-Distance_Back_Car)/16 Initial_Velocity_Back = 45 Initial_Velocity_Front_mph = 45 Relative_Velocity = DELAY(ABS(Velocity_Front_Car-Velocity_Back_Car),DT) Rxn_Time_Back = 0.45

THE OUTPUT

Home | Contact | Site Map | Search