OzoTrains

studying uniform motion and proportionality. Namely, students could expertise a practical case for using proportions’ properties they study in middle school 2^nd class

Material:

Two OZOBOTs

Black felt tip pen or

Card with Path two parallel tracks; an example is provided

Two station are l km away. Two trains depart at the same time from them, and travel on parallel tracks in opposite directions. If they travel at constant speed of AA and BB km/h respectively, where and when they will cross?

This is a typical exercise can be found in a physics book: it can be solved at different levels, depending on the age of the students. Also middle school students can solve it reflecting on the proportionality between the speed of a train, XX, and its distance from the departing station, x, and so solving a proportion like the following:

a:AA=b:BB

with a+b=l

This activity will help them to visualize their results.

Procedure:

• STEP 1

Write a code for following a line at a defined speed.

Set a speed and upload the code on one OZOBOT.

Measure the time OZOBOT takes to cover the distance between the two stations, and calculate the actual speed.

Repeat the same procedure on the other OZOBOT.

• STEP 2

Calculate the point where the two OZOBOTs will cross.

• STEP 3

Run the two OZOBOTs simultaneously, each from one station. Do they cross where according to your prediction?

Extensions:

• Calculate and check the time before crossing.