Design 2 | databot Middle School Labs

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Ninja Physics

A Hands-On Exploration of Acceleration

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Parent Tips for Success

Relax! You Don’t Need to Be a Physics Expert

All of the explanations are built right in. If you can read the numbers on the screen and
encourage your kids to explore, you’ve got everything you need.

Welcome to Ninja Physics! Before you begin, here are a few
tips to help you feel confident and relaxed as you guide your
kids through these activities!

Keep It Short and Sweet!

Each challenge is only 10–15 seconds long! With setup and
practice, most activities can be done in 10 minutes or less.
Perfect for short bursts of science fun.

Use the Space You Have

Don’t worry if you don’t have a big room. The activities can
be scaled down — a hallway or even a taped line on the floor
works just fine for your Ninja Walk.

Learn Together

It’s okay if you don’t know the answers right away — that’s part of the adventure! Use the
questions to spark discussion. (And if you’d like the answers, we’ve tucked them away for
you later in the Ninja Mysteries Revealed section.)

databot Makes It Even Easier

We built Ninja Physics to show you how to work with sensor data using your
smartphone. Sensors are fun and easy! Imagine how much more your family can
explore with databot and its 16 built-in sensors. With databot, science becomes a
hands-on adventure anytime, anywhere.

Go Forth and Get Your Ninja On!

Relax, have fun, and let curiosity lead the way. You’re about to open a
window into the hidden world of data — and your kids will love it!

Review This Entire Document First!

We have provided you with optional resources including a certificate of completion for
making this unit a fun and highly educational experience. You can do just the initial
activities and accomplish a lot, or keep going with the optional resources when you see
how much fun your kids are having with Ninja Physics.

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Open the app. Look
for the sign. In
this menu you will
see an option to "add
experiment from QR
Code."

Select this option
and your camera will
activate a scanner.

databot

Scan this QR
Code to load the
experiments for
Ninja Physics.
You will be
prompted to save
a set of
experiments into
your Vizeey
collection. Accept
and you can now
proceed with
Ninja Physics
activities!

Ninja Physics

Explore the world using sensors!

Did you know your phone has tiny
sensors inside that can measure
movement and gravity? This activity
uses one of those tiny sensors — called
an accelerometer — to help you
visualize acceleration, a remarkable
invisible force!

With just a smartphone or tablet
(Android or iOS), you will:

Watch how gravity pulls with a
steady accelerating force of 9.8
m/s²
See your movements displayed as
live data
Explore motion in three directions
(X, Y, and Z) — turning abstract math
into something real and hands-on
Play data-powered, fun Ninja
challenges, testing balance and
smooth, stealthy movement

Search for
Vizeey™ on the
App or Play Store
and Install.

Installing the Vizeey App!

This is just the beginning!

With a databot, you can go even further
— 16 sensors open the door to exploring
light, sound, air quality, temperature, air
pressure, and more. Suddenly, physics,
earth science, life science, and coding
are all hands-on adventures.

Ready to get your Ninja on? Install the
Vizeey app next and let’s go!

Note: On Android, the
Plus is in the lower right
corner, on IOS, in the
upper right.

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Explore Your Axes!

Using its tiny sensor, the accelerometer, your phone can
measure acceleration in three different ways: X, Y, and Z.

Scientists call these ways of measuring motion axes
(singular: axis). Each axis represents motion in one straight
line:

X axis – side to side
Y axis – forward and backward
Z axis – up and down

When combined, these three axes describe all possible
motion in 3D space. Let’s look at acceleration on these axes!

Acceleration: A change in speed or direction. If something moves at the
same speed in the same direction, its acceleration is zero.

Acceleration (due to gravity): On Earth, gravity pulls objects toward the
ground at a steady rate of 9.8 m/s².

Click on 3D Basics in Vizeey™ to
load your first experiment.

Try shaking the phone left and right and forward and
backward - you will see numbers changing based on the
acceleration detected!

Now look for the force of gravity. Hold your device
steady and flat in the palm of your hand. You should see a
number close to 9.8 m/s² on the Z axis. That is GRAVITY!

Next, rotate your device so you can see 9.8 m/s² on the X
and Y axes when you hold it steady. Can you get a perfect
9.8 m/s² to display?!

Use the play/pause icons to start and to pause the
data as you explore.

Now that you have a good grasp of your axes use the back arrow to return
to the Ninja Physics menu. It’s time to put your Ninja skills to a test!

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A Steady Hand!

Balance your device™ as close to 9.8 m/s² as possible
for your 10 second challenge. GO!

How much you "vary" from the perfect 9.8 goal is your
"variation" from level. As you move, the force of gravity
shifts to other axes.

How close were you able to get to 100%? Record your
score and share or compete with friends for the least
variation and best average!

Now it’s time to experiment.

Click on A Steady Hand in
Vizeey™ to load the experiment.
Use the play and pause buttons
to start and stop the experiment.

Your final score takes your
average acceleration and
adjusts it based on your
highest variation. One high
spike can take you down!

This is a 10-second timed experiment. You’ll get a 3-
second countdown (3…2…1…) to get ready, and then
Vizeey™ will begin recording your hand for the full 10
seconds. Stay as steady as possible — every tiny
wobble will show up in your score!

Practice a few rounds to get the feel for it. Watch the
yellow “live” number to see gravity shift when your
hand wobbles. Try to keep variations as close to 0 as
possible. Try this: say “9.8 is GREAT,” as you practice.

Once you’ve got your Ninja focus, go for your official
run!

Time to joust with gravity! Your phone’s accelerometer
measures motion on three axes — X, Y, and Z. In this
challenge, your goal is to hold the phone perfectly flat so
that Earth’s pull of 9.8 m/s² shows up only on the Z axis.
Any wobble will send gravity spilling over to the X or Y axes
and cost you points!

Can you steady your hand, focus your Ninja skills, and keep gravity locked on Z for a
perfect score? Practice a few times, study your results in Vizeey™, and see if you can
sharpen your control with each round. Good luck Ninja!

Official Run

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Smooth Walker!

Use your 3 second countdown to start moving so there is
no change when the timer starts. You want to glide as
smooth as glass for the 10 second timed run.

How much you "vary" from the perfect goal of ZERO
acceleration is what determines your final score.

How close were you able to get to 100%? Record your
score and share or compete with friends for the least
variation and best average!

Now it’s time to experiment.

Click on Smooth Walker in
Vizeey™ to load the experiment.
Use the play and pause buttons to
start and stop the experiment.

Your final score takes your
average acceleration and
adjusts it based on your
highest variation. One high
spike can take you down!

This is another 10-second timed experiment. You’ll get a 3-second countdown (3…2…1…) to begin moving, and then Vizeey™ will begin recording your walk for the full 10 seconds.

Do a few practice rounds to get the feel for it. Watch
the yellow “live” number to see how much you are
accelerating. Remember - acceleration is a change in
speed or direction. Try this: As you practice, say out
loud “I move with ZERO acceleration.” Try to stay as
close to zero acceleration as possible.

Ready for your next Ninja challenge? This time, you must
master the art of silent, steady movement. Your mission:
walk in a straight line for 10 perfect seconds with zero
acceleration — no speeding up, no slowing down, no drifting
off course.

Official Run

But that’s not all! While you’re gliding along the Y axis, you must also keep your phone
perfectly flat so that gravity stays locked on the Z axis. Tip too far, and gravity might
sneak onto your Y axis and steal points from your score!

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databot

Set up your course:

Create an equilateral triangle, 6 feet on each side.
Use tape to outline the triangle if you’d like a clear path
Mark three “Ninja Zones” (A, B, and C).
- Zone A: about 30” high (chair or desk).
- Zone B: about 15” high (stack books or boxes).
- Zone C: about 40” high (table, shelf, or similar).

Your mission - hover briefly over each target: start at Zone A picking up databot when the
timer starts, move smoothly through B and C, then return to A and replace databot — all
while keeping gravity locked on Z and striving for minimal acceleration! Good luck Ninjas!

The Ninja Walk!

Time to Walk!

Click on Ninja Walk in Vizeey™ to
load the experiment. Use the play
and pause buttons to start and stop
the experiment.

This is a 15-second timed experiment. You’ll get a 3-second countdown (3…2…1…) to begin moving, and then Vizeey™ will begin recording your walk for the full 15 seconds.

Do a few practice rounds to get the feel for it. Watch the yellow “live” number to see how you are doing.

Now it’s time to put all your Ninja training to the test! The Ninja Walk
combines both challenges: keeping your phone perfectly level on
the Z axis and moving with zero acceleration on the Y axis. Balance
+ smooth motion = your final Ninja score.

Remember - acceleration is a change in speed or direction. This challenge
is tricky as you MUST change direction to navigate the course.

Rules: Begin your timed run with your device resting
on point A, pass directly over point B and C, and set it
back down on point A to conclude the run!

This task is much more challenging since you must
change direction, and any change in direction increases
acceleration! Do your best!

Short on space?
Shrink or reshape the
course as needed!

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databot Opens a Window to the Invisible World of Data

We hope you enjoy Ninja Physics as much as we have enjoyed
creating it and sharing it with others around the world. Going
way beyond your smart phone capabilities, databot’s 16
included sensors provide students the extraordinary
opportunity to explore the invisible world of data that surrounds
them - air pressure, CO2 levels, light, sound, and more.

A student Ninja Walks
with databot in India!

databot - tiny
but mighty!

Accelerometer

Ultraviolet

Magnetometer

C02

Air Pressure

Volatile Organic Compounds

Temperature Probe

Gesture Sensing

Color

Linear Acceleration

Altitude

Sound

Gyroscope

Light

Humidity

Proximity, 3 cm, 10 cm*

Conclusion and More Ninja Physics

Congratulations! You have just completed your first set of databot activities
in which you and your students explored live sensor data! This powerful
approach to learning makes abstract concepts concrete through hands-on
engagement. There are more materials after this brief message for you to
go further with your exploration of gravity and acceleration if desired!

In addition to creative lessons like Ninja Physics, databot is used for traditional science
labs, applied math, and technology explorations that range from beginning coding to
advanced computer science. databot can be used to learn many topics and it grows with
your students. We hope this activity inspires you to head over to our store and bring
databot in to your home for further learning adventures. We are sure you will love databot!

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databot

Background Information for Ninja Physics!

Gravity is an amazing, invisible force that affects all objects with mass - this force is what
attracts every object to every other object. Since the force of gravity is generated by the
mass of an object, this means that more massive objects will have a more powerful force
of gravity than less massive objects. For example, a grain of salt and a planet both exert
a gravitational force, however the planet, with more mass, exerts a higher force.

Acceleration is a change in velocity (speed in a specific
direction). If an object is either at rest or traveling at a
constant speed in the same direction, there is no
acceleration. Any time there is a change in speed or direction,
acceleration is happening. You can feel the force of
acceleration when you are in a car that is going around a
sharp corner, or if it suddenly speeds up and pushes you back
into your seat! This is an invisible force you feel - but it can be
seen using sensors!

The pull of gravity accelerates objects towards one another based
on their mass. Since Earth is big and has a lot of mass, it exerts a
powerful accelerating force on us measured in meters per second
squared (m/s²). Using the accelerometer on your device you can
see the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²) - this is constant
anywhere on Earth. If you drop from an airplane to skydive, you will
accelerate at this rate until wind resistance prevents you from
falling any faster. On the moon, this number would be different
because the moon is less massive.

Balanced forces are when all forces acting upon an object are equal and
there is no change in speed or direction - acceleration is at zero. When you
hold up a weight, the force of gravity is accelerating it at 9.8 m/s² and you
are countering that with your own 9.8 m/s² to keep it from falling. The
forces are “balanced.” In Steady Hand, when you hold your sensor steady,
you are demonstrating balanced forces!

Doing Ninja Physics is great fun and you are also learning along the way. Here are the
concepts and skills you will master as a Ninja Physicist!

Visualize, collect and analyze data
Use Cartesian Coordinates - x, y, and z axes
Measure and record acceleration
Measure & record acceleration due to gravity
Visualize balanced forces in action

Learning Objectives

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Important Ninja Physics Terminology

Resources for Additional Exploration

Acceleration: The rate of change in velocity. If an object is moving
at a constant speed and direction, then its acceleration rate is zero!

Acceleration (due to gravity): On Earth, objects accelerate towards
the center of the planet because they are attracted to it - this rate is
constant at 9.8 m/s²

Accelerometer: A sensor that detects acceleration - changes in
speed and direction.

Balanced Forces: When all forces acting upon an object are equal and there is no change in
speed or direction.

Cartesian Coordinates/Geometry: Describes direction and location in three dimensions
(3D) using the Cartesian coordinates X, Y, and Z.

Force: Something that can change the motion of an object (such as gravity and
acceleration).

Gravity: An attractive force between objects with mass. We call this force "attractive"
because it always pulls masses together.

Mass: A physical property of an object; the amount of matter contained by a given volume
of solids, liquids, or gases.

Variation: A change or difference in condition, amount, or level, typically with certain limits.

Velocity: The speed of an object moving in a specific direction.

Phet

Gravity Force Lab

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/gravity-force-lab/latest/gravity-force-lab_en.html

Forces and Motion Basics

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/forces-and-motion-basics

Khan Academy

Acceleration

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/one-dimensional-motion/acceleration-
tutorial/v/acceleration

Add these free resources to your exploration toolbox that will
help you reach an even higher level of Ninja Physics knowledge!

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Ninja Physics Stretch Goals

How can acceleration be zero when you are moving?
What is the value of acceleration due to gravity in meters per second squared?
What is an example of balanced forces?

You’ve mastered the basics — now it’s time to level up your Ninja skills!
These optional challenges are designed to stretch your knowledge,
sharpen your understanding of acceleration and gravity, and let you get
creative with Ninja Physics.

1. Course Master

Redesign the Ninja Walk course. Change the shape, distance, or heights and see if you
can boost your score. Which design works best?

3. Gravity Artist

Draw a picture that explains gravity to someone else. Use arrows, stick
figures, or symbols — be creative!

2. 3D Explorer

Use the 3D Basics experiment to explore acceleration on all three axes. Can you make
gravity show up on X, Y, and Z one at a time?

4. Smooth Moves

Practice walking at different speeds using 3D Basics. Is it easier to keep acceleration at
zero when you move slowly, quickly, or somewhere in between?

5. Everyday Forces

Look around. Where do you see gravity and acceleration at work? Jot down at least three
examples.

6. Still as a Statue

Stand in a Ninja pose (deep crouch, arms extended) while using the 3D Basics
experiment. Watch the readings. Can you stay perfectly balanced without shifting forces
onto X or Y for a full 15 seconds? 30 seconds? 60 seconds? What force are your muscles
working to balance against?

7. Ultimate Ninja Showdown

Challenge your family! Who can hold the steadiest hand, walk the
smoothest line, or design the toughest course?

Ninja Knowledge Check

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Ninja Mysteries Revealed for Parents Leading the Way

Even the best Ninjas need a few secrets revealed! This section gives you simple answers
and guiding notes so you can feel confident leading the way. Relax — no advanced physics
degree required — just curiosity and a spirit of adventure.

Common Misconceptions Ninja Physics Should Overcome

Acceleration cannot be zero if you are moving.
Acceleration has nothing to do with direction, only motion in a straight line.

Guiding Questions for Discussion (also included in the Student Ninja Log for writing)

What are the three ways an object can accelerate?

There are three ways an object can accelerate: a change in speed, a change in direction, or a
change in both speed and direction.

Can you be moving at a high rate of speed and have zero acceleration?

Yes, as long as there is no change in speed or direction, acceleration is zero.

Is it possible to have acceleration if I maintain my speed at an exact rate?

Yes, a change in direction would still equal a change in acceleration, even if your speed was
constant.

What is gravity?

Gravity is an invisible force that attracts all objects to each other.

Describe how the mass of an object affects its gravitational “pull” on other objects.

The more mass an object has, the greater its gravitational force. Therefore, larger/heavier
objects will exert a greater gravitational force than smaller/lighter objects.

Why is the acceleration due to gravity different on the Moon than it is here on Earth?

Since the Moon has less mass than the Earth, it exerts a smaller gravitational force on other
objects (it doesn’t “pull” as hard as the Earth).

Describe two sets of conditions where an object has no (zero) acceleration.

1) The object is at rest, or 2) The object is moving at a constant speed in the same
direction.

Define balanced forces AND include an example

Balanced forces describes a set of conditions where all the forces acting upon an object are
equal. An example of this would be a tug of war game with equally balanced team strength
(the rope isn’t moving because the pulling force of each team is equal).

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Ninja Physics Questions

What are the three ways an object can accelerate?

Can you be moving at a high rate of speed and have zero acceleration?

Is it possible to have acceleration if I maintain my speed at an exact rate?

What is gravity?

Describe how the mass of an object affects its gravitational “pull” on other objects.

Why is the acceleration due to gravity different on the Moon than it is here on Earth?

Describe two sets of conditions where an object has no (zero) acceleration.

Define balanced forces AND include an example.

Student Ninja Training Log

Time to prove your Ninja skills! These questions are your training drills
— answer them to show what you’ve discovered about acceleration,
gravity, and balance. Stay sharp, write clearly, and remember: every
answer makes you stronger on your Ninja Physics journey!

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Elementary (3–5)
Middle School (6-8)
High School (9-12)

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

Your students are mastering important skills and practices in addition
to gaining a deep understanding of important scientific concepts
when they do Ninja Physics! This chart shows how Ninja Physics
activities align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
Each grade band lists Performance Expectations (PEs), Science &
Engineering Practices (SEPs), and Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs) that
are met through these explorations.

Grade Band

NGSS Performance
Expectations

Science &
Engineering
Practices (SEP)

Cross Cutting
Concepts (CCCs)

3-PS2-1

Effects of
balanced /
unbalanced forces

5-PS2-1

Earth's gravity
pulls objects down

Planning and
carrying out
investigations
Analyzing and
interpreting data
Engaging in
argument from
evidence

Cause and
effect
Scale,
proportion,
and quantity

MS-PS2-2

Motion depends on
net force & mass

MS-PS2-4

Gravity depends on
mass

MS-PS2-5

Fields exist
between objects

Planning and
carrying out
investigations
Analyzing and
interpreting data
Constructing
explanations and
designing solutions

Cause and
effect
Systems and
system
models
Stability and
change

HS-PS2-1

Newton’s 2nd law
and acceleration

HS-PS2-4

Gravitational
forces between
objects

Using mathematics
and computational
thinking
Analyzing and
interpreting data
Engaging in argument
from evidence
Developing and using
models

Scale,
proportion,
and quantity
Patterns
Energy and
matter

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Certificate

of Completion

Has successfully completed

databot Ninja Physics

This is to certify that

Date

Approving Sensei

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A Ninja Salute from the databot Family!

Congratulations, Ninja! You’ve completed your first steps into the hidden world of science
and data. We hope you had fun testing your skills, discovering the pull of gravity, and
exploring the power of motion with just your smart device.

But this is only the beginning. With databot, your family can unlock an entire universe of
hands-on adventures — exploring light, sound, air quality, pressure, temperature, and so
much more with 16 powerful sensors. Imagine the discoveries you can make when your
Ninja training expands into earth science, life science, chemistry, and even coding!

From our the databot family to yours: thank you for joining us on this journey. We’d love for
you to continue the adventure, join the global community of Ninja scientists, and bring
databot™ into your home. Your kids will be amazed at what they can explore, and you’ll love
how much they learn along the way.

👉 Order your databot™ today and let the adventure grow!

With gratitude and excitement,

Team databot™