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Lesson Plan For Vector Math

This lesson plan introduces students to vector math through a PhET simulation on vector addition. Over an 80 minute period, students will work in pairs using the simulation and worksheet to: 1) Explain vector representations in their own words 2) Convert between angular and component forms of vectors 3) Add vectors The teacher will check for understanding as students work and address common mistakes like using trigonometric functions on non-right triangles. After the activity, students will demonstrate their understanding of vector math through a lab.

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320 views

Lesson Plan For Vector Math

This lesson plan introduces students to vector math through a PhET simulation on vector addition. Over an 80 minute period, students will work in pairs using the simulation and worksheet to: 1) Explain vector representations in their own words 2) Convert between angular and component forms of vectors 3) Add vectors The teacher will check for understanding as students work and address common mistakes like using trigonometric functions on non-right triangles. After the activity, students will demonstrate their understanding of vector math through a lab.

Uploaded by

FlyEngineer
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lesson plan for Vector Addition1: Introduction to Vector math phet.colorado.

edu Time for activity 80 minutes Learning Goals: Students ill !e a!le to "#plain vector representations in their o n ords $onvert !et een the of angular form of vectors and the component form %dd vectors. &ac'ground: I used this as part of an introduction to vectors. The students had !een or'ing ith vector and scalar (uantities for a!out a month. )y students had no e#perience ith vector math. %lmost all the !oo' pro!lems give vectors in angular style. )y te#t uses all acute angles in map coordinates. In our !oo'* +0,- means +0 north of est. %fter this activity* I.ll have to help the students thin' a!out vectors ith this system since the simulation a different system. The angles in the sim have a ma# of 180. They are measured from due east. $ounter/cloc' ise is positive. So 00 ,- is 110. $loc' ise is negative. So 00 S" is /00 and 00 S- is /110. %lso* I revie ed some geometry including the definitions of sine* cosine and tangent. )y students are not very familiar ith the unit circle and fe have had trigonometry. I dre a right triangle ith a*!*c notation li'e they used in geometry and then ith #*y*2 notation that is used in physics. I also dre a unit circle and helped ma'e sense of the angle measure. 3ne thing I found* during the activity* as that some of them anted to use sine* etc on any triangle and that they needed to !e reminded that the triangle must !e a right triangle. Vector Addition Introduction: I did not demonstrate ho to use the sim* I 4ust gave them the path from the home page. If they use 5irefo#* they need to hit the refresh !utton to get the latest version of the sim. Lesson: 2emind the students to change their calculator mode to Degrees. 6ave the students use the la! sheet for guidance after the class discussion. )y students or'ed in pairs. I fre(uently chec'ed understanding !y stopping at each group. %fter they finished (uestion +* I as'ed them a!out their understanding of linear verses 78 math using their ans er for e#ample: 9If you are driving 11 mph east and 8 mph north* are you going 1: mph;< )any of my students did not use the S=) !utton as I e#pected in step 1. I had to give hints as I chec'ed their ans ers. I as e#pecting them to rite their designs in paragraph form* !ut many made their plans ith pictures. I decided to as' them to rite a paragraph for 1 and 0. The activity too' my honors physics students a!out 80 minutes. There are som e clic'er (uestions that I adapted from the alge!ra !ased physics class at $olorado =niversity. %fter this activity* e did a la! using spring scales and used the sim to help the students understand the vector math. There is a lesson plan included called Vector Addition7: =nderstanding 5orce e(uili!rium

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