BeeSpi v Self-Contained Photogate

What You Can Teach with the Beespi V

The Beespi V supports a wide range of mechanics and kinematics investigations:

• Constant Acceleration: Measure instantaneous velocity of rolling carts or falling objects at different points and calculate acceleration.
• Free Fall & Gravity: Quantify acceleration due to gravity without complex setups.
• Collisions & Conservation of Momentum: Compare pre- and post-impact velocities in one easy step with 2 or more BeeSpis.
• Dynamics & Force: Connect velocity data to force and mass relationships through Newton’s Laws.

Grades 4–8: How Students Can Use the Beespi V

Bring real motion data into upper-elementary and middle-school classrooms—without computers, complicated setup, or heavy math.

Easy, high-impact investigations for these grades

• Ramp Races: Roll toy cars down ramps at different heights. Students measure speed at the bottom and connect ramp height to faster motion, showing conservation of gravitational potential energy.
• Marble or Ball Drop: Drop a ball through the gate from different heights to see how speed increases as it falls. Older students can relate this to gravity and acceleration.
• Push vs. Pull Challenges: Give objects different strength “launches” (hand pushes or rubber-band launchers) and measure resulting speeds.