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Average speed: two light gates sim

When the front edge of the card cuts the first gate's beam the timer starts; when it cuts the second gate's beam the timer stops.

Average speed: two light gates · covers the GCSE, IGCSE, O-Level topic

Live, not a video. Anyone can unlock 2 figures free; a free account unlocks up to 5 and keeps them in your dashboard.

What the sim shows

When the front edge of the card cuts the first gate's beam the timer starts; when it cuts the second gate's beam the timer stops. The distance between the gates, read from the scale, divided by the time on the timer is the average speed between the gates: average speed = total distance ÷ total time. On a steady run it is the same wherever the second gate stands; when the trolley is slowing down it depends on where you measure. The first gate is at 0.20 m.

  • A gate's light: on while its beam is cut
  • Below: one row for every run

Use it in your lessons

  • Try it here: anyone can unlock 2 figures free, and a free account unlocks up to 5. Runs on a laptop, a Chromebook or a phone; nothing to install.
  • Present it and share student links with the teacher plan, from US$5 a month, billed yearly.
  • Put it on your own website or LMS for US$9, paid once, or every sim from US$29 a month.

Free guide: 12 practicals as sims, and how to run one in a lesson →

Need a version for your exact set-up? Have one made: US$49 a figure in an order of 5.

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