Speed, velocity and acceleration

Project Bloodhound

Synopsis

The Bloodhound SSC Project is a mission to create a land speed record and provides an exciting context for students to explore the relationship between speed, velocity and acceleration. The MOD is involved in the Project to support its engineering research and development and the driver of the car is an Officer in the Royal Air Force (RAF).

Video footage gives students insight to this inspiring engineering challenge. They are then required to analyse data and graphs to answer a number of speed, velocity and acceleration questions.

MOD Topic

Project Bloodhound

Curriculum Checklist

1.1a. b.
1.3a. c.
2.3a.

Curriculum Links

• Maths

Prior Knowledge

n/a

Learning Outcomes

Lower ability students will:

• Know the meaning of speed, velocity and acceleration.
• Have used formulae for calculating speed, velocity and acceleration.
• Recognise an acceleration-time graph and describe what is happening.
• Know about Project Bloodhound SSC, and the MOD's involvement.

Average ability students will:

• Understand the difference between the meanings of speed, velocity and acceleration and know how they are measured.
• Be able to apply the speed, velocity and acceleration formulae to various data sets.
• Fully recognise trends in various speed, velocity, acceleration graphs and be able to explain what is happening.
• Be familiar with Project Bloodhound SSC, the MOD's involvement and understand that many variables can affect its success.

Higher ability students will:

• Fully understand the meanings of speed, velocity and acceleration and how they are measured.
• Be confident in applying the speed, velocity and acceleration formulae to various data sets.
• Be able to interpret various speed, velocity, acceleration graphs, identify trends and be able to explain what is happening.
• Understand the significance of Project Bloodhound SSC, its long term aims, the MOD's involvement and the key variables that can affect its success.

Lesson code

S13