High Speed Highlight

A couple years ago, I got ahold of a camera that shoots high frame rate video.  The result is a super slow motion video that I can use in class to demonstrate many wonderful Science concepts and I can use these videos to make somewhat accurate measurements of actions too fast to normally see.

In class today, we were measuring the velocity of a student punching.  That backdrop is set up in increments of 0.1 m.  Anyone with a stopwatch can record the time and the rest of the students can calculate the velocity of the punch.  I had several students do this and compete for the title of fastest hands.

We also redorded Sackboy riding a skateboard.  We estimated that the distance between the "rock on" hands was about 1 m.  We recorded the velocity at the start of the hill, the bottom of the hill, and the time it took to get to the bottom.  With this information, the students could calculate his acceleration.

Finally, I ended class with a demonstration related to Newton's cannonball experiment.  The cart moves and fires the ball straight up.  Due to the motion of the cart, the ball lands back in the lancher.