Twirling Rope Frequency

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In this activity (page 1 of the PDF under SciGirls Activity: Double Dutch), learners will stand twelve feet apart swinging a rope at the slowest tempo possible while someone uses a stopwatch to record the number of twirls per minute. Based on this frequency, learners will predict whether the tempo will speed up or slow down when the twirlers move closer to each other. Use this activity to introduce the terms frequency and period. Relates to the linked video, DragonflyTV: Double Dutch.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
10 to 30 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$1 - $5 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 8 - 14
Resource Types:
Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

  • a long piece of rope, 16 feet (about 5 meters)
  • a large open space with a flat floor or surface
  • a stopwatch
  • a notebook

Keywords

Subjects

  • Mathematics
    • Data Analysis and Probability
      • Data Analysis
      • Data Collection
      • Data Representation
    • Measurement
      • Rate
    • Number and Operations
      • Fractions
  • Physical Sciences
    • Motion and Forces
      • Momentum and Velocity
    • Vibration and Waves
      • Wave Properties
      • Wave Motion
  • The Nature of Science
    • The Scientific Process
      • About Inquiry
      • Asking Questions
      • Conducting Investigations
      • Gathering Data
      • Formulating Explanations
      • Communicating Results

Informal Categories

  • Outdoor Activity
  • Physical Activity
  • Sports and Exercise

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • hear
  • be mobile
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves teamwork and communication skills
  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Culture, ethnicity, and gender

  • Girls

    • Highlights STEM opportunities for this group
    • Identifies role models or mentors in STEM fields from this group
    • Uses inclusive images of people from this group

Other

Components that are part of this resource:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Source Collection

  • DragonflyTV

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, Twin Cities Public Television, Inc., 2006

Funding Source:

  • National Science Foundation, 436260