Car Race Model

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Car Race Model

written by Andrew Duffy
supported by the National Science Foundation

The Car Race model is a Java-based simulation that will help students visualize the difference between constant velocity and constant acceleration. It features the classic physics scenario in kinematics: a lead car travels at constant velocity on a straight track, while a second car moves from rest with constant acceleration in the same direction. Each time the game is reset, the position and velocity of the lead car change, while the acceleration of the second car also changes. Which car will win?

SEE ANNOTATIONS (below) for an interactive tutorial on the topic of velocity and acceleration, recommended by The Physics Front editors.

This item was created with Easy Java Simulations (EJS), a modeling tool that allows users without formal programming experience to generate computer models and simulations. To run the simulation, simply click the Java Archive file below. To modify or customize the model, See Related Materials for detailed instructions on installing and running the EJS Modeling and Authoring Tool.

Please note that this resource requires at least version 1.5 of Java (JRE).

.jar

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Last Modified: June 2, 2014
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Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Classical Mechanics - Motion in One Dimension = Acceleration = Position & Displacement = Velocity	- High School - Lower Undergraduate - Middle School - Upper Undergraduate	- Instructional Material = Interactive Simulation - Audio/Visual = Movie/Animation

Appropriate Courses	Categories	Ratings
- Physical Science - Physics First - Conceptual Physics - Algebra-based Physics - AP Physics	- Activity - New teachers	Currently 5.0/5 Rated 5.0 stars by 1 person Want to rate this material? Login here!

Intended Users:: Learner
Educator
Format:: application/java
Mirror:: http://physics.bu.edu/~duffy/Ejs/…
Access Rights:: Free access
License:: This material is released under a GNU General Public License Version 3 license.
Rights Holder:: Andrew Duffy, Boston University
Keywords:: EJS, Easy Java Simulation, acceleration, constant acceleration, constant velocity, kinematics, race, race car simulation, velocity
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created April 27, 2010 by Mario Belloni
Record Updated:: June 2, 2014 by Andreu Glasmann
Last Update when Cataloged:: April 16, 2010
Other Collections:: The Open Source Physics

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AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008 Version)

11. Common Themes

11B. Models

9-12: 11B/H3. The usefulness of a model can be tested by comparing its predictions to actual observations in the real world. But a close match does not necessarily mean that other models would not work equally well or better.

AAAS Benchmark Alignments (1993 Version)

4. THE PHYSICAL SETTING

F. Motion

4F (3-5) #1. Changes in speed or direction of motion are caused by forces. The greater the force is, the greater the change in motion will be. The more massive an object is, the less effect a given force will have.

11. COMMON THEMES

B. Models

11B (9-12) #1. The basic idea of mathematical modeling is to find a mathematical relationship that behaves in the same ways as the objects or processes under investigation. A mathematical model may give insight about how something really works or may fit observations very well without any intuitive meaning.

Recommended Supplementary Tutorial (Editor: Caroline Hall)

Date: 06/09/2010

The Physics Front editors recommend the following interactive tutorial on velocity and acceleration by Tom Henderson, author of The Physics Classroom collection. Using an engaging format with animations and interactive questions, the author helps students see how velocity is different from speed, what acceleration means, and how each can be represented in terms of an object's position vs. time.

The Physics Classroom: Speed, Velocity, and Acceleration (html)

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/precollege/items/detail.cfm?ID=9999">Duffy, Andrew. "Car Race Model."</a>

AIP Format

A. Duffy, Computer Program CAR RACE MODEL (2010), WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9999&DocID=1635).

AJP/PRST-PER

A. Duffy, Computer Program CAR RACE MODEL (2010), <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9999&DocID=1635>.

APA Format

Duffy, A. (2010). Car Race Model [Computer software]. Retrieved October 8, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9999&DocID=1635

Chicago Format

Duffy, Andrew. "Car Race Model." https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9999&DocID=1635 (accessed 8 October 2024).

MLA Format

Duffy, Andrew. Car Race Model. Computer software. 2010. Java (JRE) 1.5. 8 Oct. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9999&DocID=1635>.

BibTeX Export Format

@misc{ Author = "Andrew Duffy", Title = {Car Race Model}, Month = {April}, Year = {2010} }

Refer Export Format

%A Andrew Duffy %T Car Race Model %D April 16, 2010 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9999&DocID=1635 %O application/java

EndNote Export Format

%0 Computer Program %A Duffy, Andrew %D April 16, 2010 %T Car Race Model %8 April 16, 2010 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9999&DocID=1635

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

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