Cart on a ramp lab.
Purpose:
•Collect distance, velocity, and acceleration data as a cart
rolls up and down a ramp.
•Analyze the position vs. time, velocity
vs. time, and acceleration
vs. time graphs.
•Determine
the best fit equations for the distance vs. time and velocity vs. time
graphs.
•Determine the mean acceleration from the acceleration
vs. time
graph.
•Collect distance, velocity, and acceleration data as a cart
rolls up and down a ramp.
•Analyze the position vs. time, velocity
vs. time, and acceleration
vs. time graphs.
•Determine
the best fit equations for the distance vs. time and velocity vs. time
graphs.
•Determine the mean acceleration from the acceleration
vs. time
graph.
Equipment:
- Cart, Ramp, Blocker, LabQuest, Stilts for the ramp, Motion
Detector
Procedure:
1. Prepare the track and Motion Detector for data
collection.
a. Attach the Motion
Detector Bracket to the track (see
Figure)
b. Attach the Motion Detector to
the Motion Detector Bracket.
c. Adjust the position of the Motion Detector Bracket so the Motion Detector is 0.15 m
from the end of the track.
d. Set the switch on the
Motion Detector to the Track position.
2. Connect the Motion Detector to DIG 1
of LabQuest and choose New from the File
menu.
3. Place the cart on the track near
the bottom end stop. If your cart has a plunger, face the plunger away
from the Motion Detector. Start data collection. You
will notice a clicking sound from the Motion Detector. Wait about a second, then briefly push
the cart up the ramp, letting it roll freely up nearly to the top, and then back
down. Catch the cart as it nears the end stop.
4. Examine the position vs. time graph. Repeat Step 3 if your position vs. time graph does
not show an area of smoothly changing distance. Check with your instructor
if you are not sure whether you need to repeat data collection.
Conclusion: In this lab we learned how the graphs of Acceleration, Velocity, and
Position vs Time looked and formed by rolling a car up down a ramp.
Position vs Time looked and formed by rolling a car up down a ramp.
Questions:
1. The slope and acceleration was between 0.03 points away from each other each
time.
2. (4,0.566)
3. (1.45,0.46)
4. Yes
5. No. The graphs doesn't look anything
alike.
6. The slope stands for the acceleration. Y stands for velocity. (0.50) is the position.
7. Position: The graph would be a straight diagonal line.
Velocity: The graph would be a straight diagonal line.
Acceleration: The graph would be a straight horizontal line.