PBS Learning Media: Frames of Reference

Detail Page «

Detail Page

Please be aware that our automated link checking software has listed this item as potentially having a problem.

published by the WGBH Educational Foundation
content provider: the American Museum of Natural History

In this interactive activity from the American Museum of Natural History, students explore how the apparent motion of an object depends on the observer's frame of reference. An animation of a basketball player bouncing a ball shows how the perceived motion of the ball depends on your point of view. Students set their own pace as they view nine scenarios and respond to questions. Teachers will also find background information on the topic of reference frames and printable questions for classroom discussion. Item is appropriate for grades 7-12.

PBS Learning Media provides thousands of classroom-ready, free digital resources including videos, games, audio clips, image sets, and lessons compiled by researchers and experienced teachers to promote the use of digital learning.

Please note that this resource requires Flash.

Editor's Note: See Related Materials for a 7-minute NOVA video on Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity that nicely supplements this animation.

https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/lsps07.sci.phys.fund.fra...

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Classical Mechanics - Relative Motion = Moving Reference Frames General Physics - Measurement/Units Relativity - Reference Frames	- High School - Middle School - Informal Education	- Instructional Material = Activity = Interactive Simulation - Audio/Visual = Movie/Animation

Appropriate Courses	Categories	Ratings
- Physical Science - Physics First - Conceptual Physics - Algebra-based Physics - AP Physics	- Activity - Assessment - New teachers	Currently 4.0/5 Rated 4.0 stars by 1 person Want to rate this material? Login here!

Intended Users:: Learner
Educator
General Public
Format:: application/flash
Access Rights:: Free access
Restriction:: © 2005 American Museum of Natural History and WGBH Educational Foundation, 2009
Keywords:: animation, inertial reference frame, interactive simulation, reference frames, simulation, special relativity
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created August 6, 2009 by Caroline Hall
Record Updated:: September 12, 2013 by Caroline Hall
Last Update when Cataloged:: March 31, 2013

Post a new comment on this item

Next Generation Science Standards

Disciplinary Core Ideas (K-12)

Forces and Motion (PS2.A)

All positions of objects and the directions of forces and motions must be described in an arbitrarily chosen reference frame and arbitrarily chosen units of size. In order to share information with other people, these choices must also be shared. (6-8)

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices (K-12)

Developing and Using Models (K-12)

Modeling in 6–8 builds on K–5 and progresses to developing, using and revising models to describe, test, and predict more abstract phenomena and design systems. (6-8)
- Develop and use a model to describe phenomena. (6-8)

AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008 Version)

4. The Physical Setting

4F. Motion

9-12: 4F/H2. All motion is relative to whatever frame of reference is chosen, for there is no motionless frame from which to judge all motion.

10. Historical Perspectives

10A. Displacing the Earth from the Center of the Universe

6-8: 10A/M1. Because every object is moving relative to some other object, no object has a unique claim to be at rest. Therefore, the idea of absolute motion or rest is misleading.

ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!

Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/precollege/items/detail.cfm?ID=9346">American Museum of Natural History. PBS Learning Media: Frames of Reference. Boston: WGBH Educational Foundation, March 31, 2013.</a>

AIP Format

(WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston, 2005), WWW Document, (https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/lsps07.sci.phys.fund.frameref/frames-of-reference/).

AJP/PRST-PER

PBS Learning Media: Frames of Reference (WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston, 2005), <https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/lsps07.sci.phys.fund.frameref/frames-of-reference/>.

APA Format

PBS Learning Media: Frames of Reference. (2013, March 31). Retrieved December 6, 2024, from WGBH Educational Foundation: https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/lsps07.sci.phys.fund.frameref/frames-of-reference/

Chicago Format

American Museum of Natural History. PBS Learning Media: Frames of Reference. Boston: WGBH Educational Foundation, March 31, 2013. https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/lsps07.sci.phys.fund.frameref/frames-of-reference/ (accessed 6 December 2024).

MLA Format

PBS Learning Media: Frames of Reference. Boston: WGBH Educational Foundation, 2005. 31 Mar. 2013. American Museum of Natural History. 6 Dec. 2024 <https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/lsps07.sci.phys.fund.frameref/frames-of-reference/>.

BibTeX Export Format

@misc{ Title = {PBS Learning Media: Frames of Reference}, Publisher = {WGBH Educational Foundation}, Volume = {2024}, Number = {6 December 2024}, Month = {March 31, 2013}, Year = {2005} }

Refer Export Format

%T PBS Learning Media: Frames of Reference %D March 31, 2013 %I WGBH Educational Foundation %C Boston %U https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/lsps07.sci.phys.fund.frameref/frames-of-reference/ %O application/flash

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %D March 31, 2013 %T PBS Learning Media: Frames of Reference %I WGBH Educational Foundation %V 2024 %N 6 December 2024 %8 March 31, 2013 %9 application/flash %U https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/lsps07.sci.phys.fund.frameref/frames-of-reference/

Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.

Citation Source Information

The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References.

The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation.

The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ.

This resource is stored in 10 shared folders.

You must login to access shared folders.

PBS Learning Media: Frames of Reference:

Is Associated With NOVA: Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity

A 7-minute video for secondary education that provides an introductory look at Einstein's thought experiment on inertial reference frames in special relativity.

relation by Caroline Hall

See details...

Know of another related resource? Login to relate this resource to it.