In this activity, students analyse graphs of speed, force and power for Alison Shanks, one of New Zealand’s world champion cyclists, in the women’s 3,000 metre individual pursuit track cycling event.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
- describe motion based on information from a speed versus time graph
- use a graph to estimate acceleration and distance travelled
- use graphs of speed and force to estimate aerodynamic drag.
Download the Word file (see link below) for:
- introduction/background notes
- what you need
- what to do
- student worksheets.
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Activity idea
The On your bikes activity requires students to analyse graphs of motion for New Zealand champion cyclist Alison Shanks. A worksheet leads students to analyse graphs of speed, force and power.
Useful link
In this article, two time Olympian, track and road cyclist Alison Shanks, shares her memories of Beijing 2008 and London 2012 in what she describes as two quite different experiences.
