This lesson will explore the sport of eFoiling and how Newtonian physics can be used to explain the phenomenon of the surfboard moving on the Great Lakes. Students will learn to model constant speed and how balanced forces allow objects to move at constant speeds.
Lesson Objectives:
- Know about the recreation water sport e-foiling
- Understand how the position of an object moving at a constant speed changes over time
- Be able to model the motion of an object traveling with constant speed
View the entire lesson plan including teacher background information, worksheets and more below or download for free here.
Activity 1:
This activity is a video discussion of a Great Lakes Now episode segment featuring the recreation sport of eFoiling on the Great Lakes. During the video they need to jot down four things they took away from the video using the 4 Notes Summary Protocol.
Watch a Great Lakes Now Segment
Activity 2:
The methods of mapping the floor of the Great Lakes have advanced by leaps and bounds over time. From lead sinker plumb line measurements to SONAR, the modern technology shaping Great Lakes bathymetry is nothing short of incredible. In this activity, students will use a Think Pair Square Protocol for discussing what they will read about this very topic.
Read About Surfing on the Great Lakes
Activity 3:
In this activity, students will conduct an experiment to measure the speed of a dry ice block. Depending on the learners’ ages, this could be done as a whole-group activity or completed in small groups. Either way, start by asking students what two things we need to measure in order to determine the speed of a moving object (e.g., distance and time).
Activity 4:
In this activity, students will complete a graphing exercise to mathematically model the motion of an object moving at a constant speed.
Mathematically Modeling Constant Speed
Check out Great Lakes Now’s segment on eFoiling and other segments featured in Episode 2210: Surf and Turf on this month’s landing page.
If you use this lesson or any of its activities with your learners, we’d love to hear about it! Contact us with any feedback or questions at: GreatLakesNow@DPTV.org
