In this activity, students measure speed and drag for a person on a bike to determine the effects of aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance on a cyclist’s maximum speed.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
- measure distance and time to calculate a cyclist’s maximum speed
- describe what might affect aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance
- experiment to find out how the maximum speed that a cyclist can reach is affected by different drag and rolling resistances
- measure the forces of drag and rolling resistance for a cyclist on a bike being pulled at a constant speed
- explain how forces need to be balanced for a cyclist to travel at a constant speed.
Download the Word file (see link below) for:
- introduction/background notes
- what you need
- what to do
- extension ideas
- student worksheet.
Related content
An activity designed to develop basic understanding of speed and acceleration.
