Investigating Average Speed
I. Problem: Which event (walking, running, skipping, hopping on one leg, or walking backwards) for 20 meters will have the highest speed?
II. Hypothesis:
III. Materials: Meterstick
Stopwatch
IV. Procedure: 1. Use the meterstick to measure a distance of 20 m.
2. Use the stopwatch to time how long it takes for you and the others in your group to
a. walk
b. run
c. skip
d. walk backward
e. hop on one leg
3. Calculate the average speed for each event for each group member. Use the equation: Average speed = total distance / time interval
4. Calculate the average of the average speed for each event by adding all the individual average speeds together and dividing by the number of group members.
V. Results: Construct a data table for each event (5 data tables total).
1. Include name, distance, time in seconds, speed in meters per second and velocity.
2. Construct a line graph for each event. Graph the speed NOT
the distance or time.
Data Table - WALKING
Student’s Name / Distance (m) / Time (seconds) / Avg. Speed (m/s) / Velocity (m/s)Data Table - RUNNING
Student’s Name / Distance (m) / Time (seconds) / Avg. Speed (m/s) / Velocity (m/s)Data Table - SKIPPING
Student’s Name / Distance (m) / Time (seconds) / Avg. Speed (m/s) / Velocity (m/s)Data Table – WALKING BACKWARD
Student’s Name / Distance (m) / Time (seconds) / Avg. Speed (m/s) / Velocity (m/s)Data Table – HOPPING ON ONE FOOT
Student’s Name / Distance (m) / Time (seconds) / Avg. Speed (m/s) / Velocity (m/s)Group averages: Walk: ______Run: ______Backward: ______Hop:______
Skip:______
VI. Conclusion: Support why the hypothesis was accepted or rejected. See lab write-up notes!
V. Questions:
1. What were the manipulated variables?
2. What were the responding variables?
3. What were the constant variables?
4. During which event did you have the greatest average speed?
5. What units did you use to measure average speed?
6. If you had stopped for a while when performing any of the events, predict your average speed for that event?
7. How would the speed results change if the markers were placed 10 meters apart?
8. How could one find the acceleration for these events performed?
9. Convert the distance traveled in this lab to mm.
10. Convert the distance traveled in this lab to hm.