Level 4: Speed and direction

Forces and motion · level 4 of 8 · rough age 11-12 (a guide for parents; anyone can start anywhere)

In this level you put numbers on motion. You work out speeds and change between metres per second and kilometres per hour, tell speed from velocity, read distance-time graphs, and meet acceleration, the rate at which speed changes. You see why going round a corner always needs a force, and plan a long drive across Mars with a rover's real speed.

Lesson	You will be able to
How fast?	Work out a speed from a distance and a time, in m/s and km/h
Speed and velocity	Explain the difference between speed and velocity
Distance-time graphs	Read speeds and stops from a distance-time graph
Speeding up and slowing down	Work out an acceleration and read a speed-time graph
Turning needs a force	Explain why anything that changes direction needs a force, and where it comes from
Planning a long drive	Use average speed to plan how many sols a rover drive will take

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