Hands On Physics
The Great Bungee Jump
Extensions
Overview
Here is where you get to show your creativity. Extensions are suggested
investigations that build on the ideas of the core project. Each group should
pick one extension or make up one. There are no instructions for extensions,
just some suggestions to help you get started. It's up to you to define
the question, decide on the experiment, collect data, analyze your results,
and communicate what you have found. If your experiment is very interesting,
it can be published on the Web. There are several extensions you might pursue:
- Test the model by repeating
the experiment under different conditions. Before you make any recommendations
based on the model, pehaps it should be tested more. Will it apply to a
larger setup?
- Examine the effect of friction.
Does the model correctly account for air and other kinds of friction? Test
the model with objects that have a very different amounts of air friction.
- Improve the experiment with
computer interface electronics. The trip wires we used were not
convenient and might be a source of error. Update that part of the experiment
with photogates and software that uses your computer as an instrument.
- Look at the two-dimentional
motion of the bungee by using a video camera. Our experiment
was one-dimensional, looking just at the up-and-down motion of the jumper.
What about the horizontal motion? Will the jumper crash into the building
before reaching ground? Analyzing a video record is the best way to do this.
For more ideas, look on the Web for extensions other students have contributed.
Invent your own experiment. Decide on your experiment and measurements. Before you begin experimenting, tell your instructor what you plan.
Be Safe
In any experiment you do, always think carefully about safety. Think about what might go wrong and how that can be avoided. One person in the group might be given the task of being a safety officer and asked to always think about safety. Even if you do this, everyone should be aware of hazards all the time. "Safety is everyone's business."
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