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Tipping Point Lab |
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This lab is designed to allow students to collect data whose model
will be (or should be) a linear regression. The lab requires
minimal set up time and supplies. Depending upon your
supplies, students may work alone or in pairs or groups. |
(This activity is
adapted from a TFAS (Technology for All Students) TI training group
session.)
Supplies: 10 pennies for each
lab group, one ruler, and a desk top
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Note:
I save the tubs from mini M&M's (which are used in other
experiments) and fill them up with pennies. The tubs easily hold
50 pennies. I then have pennies available for future experiments
in easily handled canisters. Film canisters also work well.
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Directions:
1. Place the ruler on the edge of a desk with the end marked 0
extending over the
edge of the desk. The readings will be in
centimeters.
2. Place one penny on the
end of the ruler that is extending out past the desk.
3. Use a pencil to gently push
the ruler toward the
end of the desk until it starts to tip. |
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4. Record the length the ruler
extends over the
edge of the desk at the tipping point. |
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5. Repeat the process using from
2 through 10 pennies.
6. Enter the
data into a graphing calculator. On the TI-83+, enter the number of
pennies in list
L1 and the length at tipping in L2.
7. Prepare a
scatter plot of the data and indicate the shape of the plot.
8. A series of
questions are then asked regarding the findings. A lab worksheet can
be downloaded (.pdf format) below.
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