ALEX Classroom Resource

  

The Limits of Speed

  Classroom Resource Information  

Title:

 The Limits of Speed

URL:

 https://www.ck12.org/c/calculus/infinite-limit-type/rwa/The-Limits-of-Speed/?referrer=concept_details

Content Source:

 Other
CK-12
Type: Informational Material

Overview:

Science fiction movies take it for granted that someday humans, or an alien race, will travel faster than the speed of light and build an intergalactic empire. Scientists aren't so sure that this is possible. It turns out that approaching the speed of light is very difficult. If Einstein's theories are correct, nothing that has mass can travel at the speed of light.

This informational material will apply a precalculus concept--limits of functions at infinity--to a well-known scientific theory--Einstein's theory of relativity. There is a video and links to additional information included.

Content Standard(s):
Science
SC2015 (2015)
Grade: 9-12
Earth and Space Science
6 ) Obtain and evaluate information about Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, and Einstein to communicate how their findings challenged conventional thinking and allowed for academic advancements and space exploration.

Unpacked Content
Scientific And Engineering Practices:
Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Disciplinary Core Idea: Earth's Place in the Universe
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • Compare and contrast the arguments for the geocentric system of planetary motions (i.e., the Ptolemaic system) and the heliocentric system (Copernican) providing explanations for why each system was widely accepted for many centuries.
  • Graphically organize the claims and declarations of Copernicus, Galielo, Kepler and Newton, showing the correlation and development of the varioul Laws and principles that resulted in modern understanding of the motion of all objects.
  • Gather, read and evaluate scientific information from other disciplines (e.g., chemistry or biology) showing how initial non-traditional ideas were developed and extended by a progression of scientists into a modern view.
Teacher Vocabulary:
  • Copernicus
  • Galileo
  • Kepler
  • Newton
  • Einstein
  • heliocentric
  • orbit
  • gravity
  • relativity
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • Copernicus contributed the heliocentric or sun-centered conception of the universe.
  • Kepler contributed the three laws of planetary motion Galileo contributed through telescopic observations that materials in universe were more earth like rather than ethereal.
  • Newton contributed the laws of motion and universal gravitation.
  • Einstein contributed the theories of relativity.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • Identify relevant evidence found in case studies from the history of science on Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, and Einstein.
  • Evaluate the validity, reliability of evidence along with its ability to support reasonable arguments.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • Science knowledge is a result of human endeavor, imagination, and creativity.
  • Individuals and teams from many nations and cultures have contributed to science and to advances in engineering.
  • Technological advances have influenced the progress of science and science has influenced advances in technology.
Mathematics
MA2019 (2019)
Grade: 9-12
Precalculus
7. Determine numerically, algebraically, and graphically the limits of functions at specific values and at infinity.

a. Apply limits of functions at specific values and at infinity in problems involving convergence and divergence.

Unpacked Content
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 11
8. Read, analyze, and evaluate texts from science, social studies, and other academic disciplines and explain how those disciplines treat domain-specific vocabulary and content and organize information.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
8.
  • Academic disciplines
  • Domain-specific vocabulary
  • Content organization
Knowledge:
8. Students know:
  • Strategies to read, analyze, and evaluate texts from various academic disciplines.
  • Content-specific text will often include a particular structure and domain-specific vocabulary.
Skills:
8. Students are able to:
  • Read, analyze, and evaluate texts from subjects other than English language arts to determine the use of domain-specific vocabulary.
  • Read, analyze, and evaluate texts from subjects other than English language arts to determine how the academic discipline organizes content.
Understanding:
8. Students understand that:
  • Different academic disciplines may utilize different vocabulary.
  • Different academic disciplines may arrange content in particular organizational styles.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 12
8. Read, analyze, and evaluate texts from science, social studies, and other academic disciplines and explain how those disciplines treat domain-specific vocabulary and content and organize information.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
8.
  • Academic disciplines
  • Domain-specific vocabulary
  • Content organization
Knowledge:
8. Students know:
  • Strategies to read, analyze, and evaluate texts from various academic disciplines.
  • Content-specific text will often include a particular structure and domain-specific vocabulary.
Skills:
8. Students are able to:
  • Read, analyze, and evaluate texts from subjects other than English language arts to determine the use of domain-specific vocabulary.
  • Read, analyze, and evaluate texts from subjects other than English language arts to determine how the academic discipline organizes content.
Understanding:
8. Students understand that:
  • Different academic disciplines may utilize different vocabulary.
  • Different academic disciplines may arrange content in particular organizational styles.
Tags: asymptote, Einstein, end behavior, function, graph, infinity, light, limit, limit notation, precalculus, speed, theory of relativity
License Type: Custom Permission Type
See Terms: https://www.ck12info.org/terms-of-use/
For full descriptions of license types and a guide to usage, visit :
https://creativecommons.org/licenses
AccessibilityText Resources: Content is organized under headings and subheadings
Video resources: includes closed captioning or subtitles
Comments
  This resource provided by:  
Author: Hannah Bradley
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