Emma Wilczynski, Liam Gillis, & Bjorn Janssen October 17, 2019 Per.
Applied Physics: Car Ramp Lab Report
Introduction:
I. In this lab the physics of motion is going to be explored. More so, the main intent of this
lab is to grasp acceleration as a concept. In an experiment where you can measure time
and distance, other values can be derived. Calculating and understanding these values
is the ideal outcome of this lab. However, data inaccuracies will be a major issue in this
lab. These contingencies are present because of variables such as air resistance,
measurement devices, friction, etc... The basic concepts that will be gone through as a
consequence of the experiments include: relationship between changes in ramp angle
affecting acceleration, as well as, how time and distance are related to constant speed.
II. Multiple experiments are going to be conducted in order for these ideas to develop.
These experiments are similar; however, answer different questions. These experiments
are similar because they all involve the movement of an object on a slope. More so, the
variables change between experiments.
III. The main purpose of the following experiments is to demonstrate the direct connection
that gravity and angle of attack have on velocity and acceleration. In the first experiment
we will demonstrate how a constant velocity of 5cm/s will affect the time it takes to travel
certain increments of distance. This experiment should have consistent time, distance,
and velocity as well as no acceleration due to constant velocity. The direct outcome of
this experiment is seeing how time and distance are related to an object moving at a
constant speed. The second experiment will demonstrate the relationship between
position and time. We will do this by breaking up d1, the ramp, and d2, the straightaway,
into increments where we will measure the time. With this data we will create a
position-time graph to display the effects of the incline on the data. Finally, the third
experiment will demonstrate the effect a steeper incline has on variables like time,
velocity, and acceleration with a constant distance traveled of 76.2cm per trial. The
increments of degree measured in this experiment will be 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, and
90°. At 90° we can expect to see an acceleration of 9.8m/s^2 because that is the
acceleration due to gravity on earth. With this information, along with the constant
distance of 76.2cm, we can calculate both velocity and acceleration.
Equipment:
The equipment required for the following experiments includes a measuring device for distance
and time. A video camera is also necessary. Finally, a ramp, toy car, and books are required.
Experiment 1:
Procedure:
*Refer to abstract (III)
Step 1: mark 100 cm path (intervals of 10 cm)
Step 2: setup timer
Step 3: move car with hand at a constant velocity of 5cm/s, recording to see accuracy
Data:
Correction 5cm/s
Predicted values:
Given: Distance Traveled (cm) Time required (s)
10 cm 2s
20 cm 4s
30 cm 6s
40 cm 8s
50 cm 10 s
60 cm 12 s
70 cm 14 s
80 cm 16 s
90 cm 18 s
100 cm 20 s
Values in experiment:
Given: Test 1 (s) Test 2 (s) Test 3 (s) Test 4 (s) Average (s):
Distance
Traveled
(cm)
10 cm 2.3 s 2.1 s 1.90 s 2.3 s 2.15 s
20 cm 4.5 s 4.3 s 4.0 s 4.2 s 4.25 s
30 cm 6.6 s 6.3s 6.1s 6.1s 6.28 s
40 cm 7.5 s 7.3 s 8.1 s 7.9 s 7.7 s
50 cm 10.0 s 10.4 s 10.1 s 9.8 s 10.08 s
60 cm 11.7 s 12.4 s 11.8 s 12.9 s 12.2 s
70 cm 14.0 s 13. 7 s 13.5 s 14.3 s 13.88 s
80 cm 15.9 s 16.0 s 15.8 s 16.4 s 16.03 s
90 cm 17.9 s 18.4 s 18.5 s 18.1 s 18.23 s
100 cm 20.2 s 20.2 s 20. 1 s 20.0 s 20.13 s
Calculations and Error Analysis:
Because time and distance could not be made perfectly consistent in the experiment, the
velocity could not be 5cm/s exactly. Though the average velocity is close, human error is carried
out often during experimentation.
Experiment 2:
Procedure:
*Refer to abstract (III)
Step 1: setup ramp. Angle can be determined by inverse Sin because of the lengths available
Step 2: setup timer
Step 3: Setup camera to record car and camera
Step 4: run experiment
Data:
Ramp is at 45 degrees
Final velocity does not = 0, as the car didn’t stop in this experiment
Values in Experiment:
Data Set Distance(c t1 t2 t3 Average Average
m) time time^2
1 20cm 0.24 0.22 0.27 0.24 0.058
2 40cm 0.43 0.40 0.42 0.42 0.18
3 60cm 0.54 0.56 0.54 0.55 0.30
4 80cm 0.62 0.63 0.64 0.63 0.40
5 100cm 0.73 0.72 0.75 0.73 0.53
6 120cm 0.89 0.86 0.83 0.86 0.74
7 140cm 1.03 1.01 1.25 1.10 1.21
Position, Time graph: (Note: not t^2)
Calculations and Error Analysis:
Formula to calculate velocity at each interval: change in d over change in t
Velocity at 20cm: 20cm-0.0cm / 0.24s - 0.0s = 83.33cm/s
Velocity at 40cm: 40cm-20.0cm / 0.43s - 0.24s = 105.3cm/s
Velocity at 60cm: 60cm-40.0cm / 0.54s - 0.43s = 181.8m/s
Velocity at 80cm: 80cm-60.0cm / 0.62s - 0.54s = 250cm/s
Velocity at 100cm: 100cm-80.0cm / 0.73s - 0.62s = 181.8cm/s
Velocity at 120cm: 120cm-100.0cm / 0.89s - 0.73s = 125cm/s
Velocity at 140cm: 140cm-120.0cm / 1.03s - 0.89.s = 142.9cm/s
Experiment 3:
Procedure:
*Refer to abstract (III)
Step 1: Setup experiment
Step 2: Record the time taken from the car to go across d1
Step 3: record how far the car goes and how long it takes to stop
Data:
d2 changes for each incline as the car travels different distances.
Experiment Data:
*note d2 is averaged for each test
15 deg
Test 1: t1 t2 Test 2: t1 t2 Test 3: t1 t2 Av.
d1 0.96s n/a 1.04s n/a 1.01s n/a 1.0s
(76.2cm)
d2 n/a 4.38s n/a 4.8s n/a 4.29s 4.49s
(304.8cm)
30 deg
Test 1: t1 t2 Test 2: t1 t2 Test 3: t1 t2 Av.
d1 0.67s n/a 0.62s n/a 0.57s n/a 0.62s
(76.2cm)
d2 n/a 3.82s n/a 4.21s n/a 2.98s 3.67s
(346.1cm)
45 deg
Test 1: t1 t2 Test 2: t1 t2 Test 3: t1 t2 Av.
d1 0.51s n/a 0.57s n/a 0.49s n/a 0.52s
(76.2cm)
d2 n/a 3.08s n/a 3.0s n/a 2.96s 3.01s
(353.2cm)
60deg
Test 1: t1 t2 Test 2: t1 t2 Test 3: t1 t2 Av.
d1 0.48s n/a 0.48s n/a 0.43s n/a 0.46s
(76.2cm)
d2 n/a 2.58s n/a 2.65s n/a 2.61s 2.61s
(330.5cm)
75deg
Test 1: t1 t2 Test 2: t1 t2 Test 3: t1 t2 Av.
d1 0.42s n/a 0.46s n/a 0.36s n/a 0.41s
(76.2cm)
d2 n/a 2.44s n/a 2.4s n/a 2.32s 2.39s
(337.5cm)
90deg
Test 1: t1 t2 Test 2: t1 t2 Test 3: t1 t2 Av.
d1 0.30s n/a 0.35s n/a 0.29s n/a 0.31s
(76.2cm)
d2 (0.0cm) n/a / n/a / n/a / /
Position, time graph:
Calculations and Error Analysis:
d1 t1 d2 t2 Va=d1/ Vb=d2/ V2=
2V a1=V2/ a2=-V2
(constant a
) t1 t2 t1 /t2
15° 76.2c 1.0s 304.8c 4.49s 76.2c 67.9c 152.4 152cm -33.9c
m m m/s m/s cm/s /s^2 m/s^2
(1.52m
/s^2)
30° 76.2c 0.62s 346.1c 3.67s 112.9c 94.3c 225.8 364.2c -99.2c
m m m/s m/s cm/s m/s^2 m/s^2
(3.642
m/s^2)
45° 76.2c 0.52s 353.2c 3.01s 146.5c 117.3c 293cm 563.5c -187.2
m m m/s m/s /s m/s^2 cm/s^2
(5.635
m/s^2)
60° 76.2c 0.46s 330.5c 2.61s 165.9c 126.6c 331.3c 720.2c -126.9
m m m/s m/s m/s m/s^2 cm/s^2
(7.202
m/s^2)
75° 76.2c 0.41s 337.5c 2.39s 185.9c 141.2c 371.8c 906.8c -155.6
m m m/s m/s m/s m/s^2 cm/s^2
(9.068
m/s^2)
90° 76.2c 0.31s n/a n/a 245.8c n/a 491.6c 1585.8 n/a
m m/s m/s cm/s^2
(15.85
8m/s^
2)
*D2 is inaccurate due to the erratic nature of the car’s movement
Based on the data provided by the experiment, multiple trends can be identified. Firstly, as the
incline increased, the time taken to cross d1 decreased (change in velocity). This means that
the car accelerated relative to the other experiments. Another identifiable trend is the general
increase in d2 as the incline increased. However, this value is inconsistent because of the cars
sporadic movement.The data also shows that the average acceleration grew closer to 9.8m/s^2
as the incline increased. However the value of acceleration due to gravity was inaccurate due to
human error in the experiment.
Conclusion:
In the last experiment calculations of the car’s velocity and acceleration were made at
different points in its travel. Carrying out this process, in itself, fulfilled the duty of this lab. This
duty being the understanding of the car's velocity and acceleration. Even though the data is
incorrect at times because of uncontrolled variables, there were still things that we could
analyze. Based on the results of the experiment it can be surmised when the car accelerated ,
as well as, decelerated. Overall, a greater understanding of the relationship between time,
distance, velocity, and acceleration.
