Cedar Point Project

Cedar Point Project 

This year, the Cedar Point trip is Monday, May 16.  The cost will be announced in your Physics class.  We have very firm deadlines to meet leading up to and including the day of the trip.  For this reason, you must meet all of the posted deadlines for payment, permission slips and proposal approval.  You also must be fully participating in the class during the semester by attending class and turning in homework to be included on the trip.

At Cedar Point, you will test a single concept from the course.  The equipment that will be available and the access to a ride is very limited, so you are going to have to be creative.  Your measuring devices are going to be limited to a stopwatch, a ruler, a quadrant and your body.  Your proposal should include how you are going take the measurements as well as how you are going to use them.

This project will consist of many smaller tasks:

Personal Measurements will allow you to use your body to make measurements.

Outside Measurements is an opportunity to practice determining distances and heights.  It should also help you to choose which method you will use at Cedar Point.

The Proposal is your opportunity to identify your project and clarify exactly what measurements are necessary and how you are going to use them.  This must be approved by the instructor by the posted deadline in order to go on the trip to Cedar Point.

At the park, you will take the measurements from your proposal.  If possible, take each measurement multiple times to reduce error.

Conclusions should relate back to your original proposal statement.  Sources of uncertainty should include human as well as systematic factors that impact your measurements.  Finally, you should include improvements you could make if you had a second chance.