Orienteering with Vectors

Ryan Zimny, Cloquet, MN
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Summary

In this activity, I have students create Orienteering directions in distance and direction to a minimum of 6 checkpoints around the school property, with a "prize bag" at the final checkpoint. They exchange directions with another group and try to correctly find the prizes. They finish the activity by drawing a scale map of the vectors, and finding the straight-line distance and direction from start to finish as an introduction the idea of a "resultant".

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Learning Goals

Students will use conversion skills to convert between meters and their pace length, learn to use a field compass, use vectors to follow a path, and discover the idea of a "resultant" vector.

Context for Use

I use this activity early in the discussion of vectors with my senior level Physics course. I find it to be a fun way to actively connect the ideas of graphically adding vectors and determining a resultant vector.

Description and Teaching Materials

1. Introduce the activity of orienteering, and show the students how to use a field compass.
2. Students find their average pace length by walking a measured distance (track works well for this) and counting paces. avg pace = distance / paces taken. it helps to do this a few times to get a good average.
3. In groups of 3, students pick a starting point and walk to a checkpoint in a straight line, recording direction and number of paces. All group members do this (with different numbers of paces). Students convert their paces to meters, and then average the distance between them. Repeat 5 more times to new checkpoints and then to a final checkpoint where they can leave prizes.
4. On a notecard, each group will write their starting point, and then the distance and direction of each vector in order.
5. Groups exchange cards and convert each vector's magnitude from distance to their specific paces, and then attempt to follow the directions.
6. Each group then draws a map to scale for the directions they followed, and determine the straight-line direction and distance they could have followed to the final destination in order to determine the "resultant vector".

Teaching Notes and Tips

It is important that each student understands how to use a field compass. Take time to be sure EVERY student can show you how to do this before they head out of the room.

Assessment

Students will hand in their orienteering directions and maps when completed.

References and Resources