Contextualization

Before we embark on this project, it is crucial to establish a foundation of core concepts. Firstly, speed is the rate at which an object moves in a particular direction. Now, when we talk about relative speed, we are interested in how much the speed of one object is changing relative to another. In this context, even an object that appears to be stationary (like a book on a table) can have a relative speed if the object it is being compared to is moving.

Why is relative speed a significant concept? Let's consider a practical example. Suppose you are in a car moving at 60 km/h and there's a truck on the same road also moving in the same direction at 80 km/h. The relative speed of the truck concerning you will be the difference between the speeds, i.e., 20 km/h. Hence, even though both vehicles are moving, it will appear to you, in the car, that the truck is moving at a speed of only 20 km/h.

In broader terms, the concept of relative speed has significant implications in the field of physics and beyond. It is a key concept in Einstein's theory of relativity, which revolutionized our understanding of the universe. In the real world, relative speed finds applications in diverse areas, from engineering and technology to sports and transportation.

About the Project

In this project, we will explore the concept of relative speed through a fun and engaging activity. We will put the theoretical concept into practice and witness how it applies to the world around us.

To delve deeper into the topic and seek references for discussion, I recommend the following credible sources:

• Book "Physics for Scientists and Engineers" by Paul A. Tipler and Gene Mosca.
• YouTube channel Ciência Todo Dia has videos on various physics topics, including relative speed.
• The website Brasil Escola also provides a good summary of the topic.

These sources should provide a solid foundation for understanding the concept of relative speed and prepare you for the hands-on activity.

Hands-on Activity

Activity Title: Relative Speed Race

Project Goal:

Comprehend and apply the concept of relative speed in a real-world situation and interpret the results obtained.

Detailed Project Description:

In this activity, students will simulate a race between two distinct objects to observe and calculate their relative speed. The race will be between a toy car propelled by a string and a student walking in a straight line. It is advisable to have observers in addition to the participants to assist in evaluating the results.

The project will comprise three main stages: Planning the race, conducting the race, and analyzing the results.

Required Materials:

1. A toy car that can be propelled by a string
2. Measuring tape or meter stick to measure the distance covered
3. Stopwatch to measure time

Step-by-Step Instructions for the Activity:

1. Divide students into groups of 3 to 5 people.
2. Each group should choose one person to walk and compete against the car.
3. Define a fixed distance for the "race," for example, 20 meters.
4. Mark the starting and finishing points of the race.
5. Record the time taken by both the student and the car to cover the set distance separately.
6. Now, conduct the race with the car and the student moving simultaneously.
7. Observe and record who reaches the end first and the time taken by both.
8. Calculate the relative speed based on the recorded times.

For project submission, students are required to compose a document in a report format with the following sections:

1. Introduction: The student should contextualize the topic of relative speed, its relevance, and real-world applications, and the objective of this project.

2. Development: Here, students should elaborate on the theory of relative speed, explain the activity conducted in detail, indicate the methodology used, and present and discuss the results obtained. They should detail how they planned the race, how the race was conducted, and the specifics of how the relative speed was calculated based on the recorded times.

3. Conclusion: In this section, students should reiterate the main points of the report, explicitly stating what they learned and the conclusions drawn about relative speed based on the results of the conducted race.

4. Bibliography: Students should indicate the sources they referred to for working on the project, such as books, web pages, videos, etc.

The groups will have one week to conduct the activity and submit the finalized report.