MYP LAB REPORT

NAME: Jigyansa Beura

DATE: 12/01/2022

CLASS: MYP4 Physics

TEACHER: Veronique Duquesne

TITLE OF THE EXPERIMENT: Effect of Incline on Velocity

1
 Lab Report - Velocity

CRITERION B
Experiment: marble/ramp

Define the Problem

How is the velocity of the marble dependent on the incline of the ramp?

- We frequently see in real life that the steeper a road is, the faster a bicycle will accelerate
down the hill and the higher the velocity. Physics and gravity can explain this predicament.

- We will use physics formulae to compute the velocity of a marble travelling down a ramp by
calculating the amount of time it takes the marble to descend the ramp by replicating his
experiment.

- We can examine the dependence of the marble's velocity on the incline of the ramp by
adjusting the steepness of the ramp.

- This experiment is particularly useful for determining and calculating the kind and size of a
bicycle break, for example. Engineers may develop specialised brakes for different types of
bicycles by estimating the velocity in various conditions.

Hypothesis: What I predict, with support from sources

If the incline of the ramp is increased, then the velocity of the marble will increase because
gravitational potential energy is being turned into kinetic energy as the marble rolls down the ramp.

Variables:
INDEPENDENT - The incline of the ramp DATA RANGE: 5 heights:
VARIABLE (X AXIS) 12 cm
24 cm
36 cm
48 cm
60 cm

3 trials each

2
 DEPENDENT - The time the marble takes HOW I WILL I will start using a timer to
VARIABLE (Y AXIS) to descend the ramp in MEASURE measure the time the
order to find the velocity THIS: marble takes to descend.
After three trials, the
average will be recorded.

CONTROL 1. Length/surface of the HOW I WILL 1. Measure the ramp with

VARIABLES ramp MAKE SURE a ruler
2.Size/surface/texture/mass THESE STAY 2. Use the same marble
These variables of the marble THE SAME: 3. Use the same timer
must be controlled 3. Timer 4. Use the same ramp
because: 4. Ramp support support
- The size of the
5. Size of ruler 5. Use the same ruler
ramp would affect
the velocity
- A change in type of
marble, its
size,surface,texture
of mass would affect
the velocity

Procedure: Step-by-step list of what I will do

STEP 1) Gather all the materials

STEP 2) Place the ramp support on a flat surface.

STEP 3) Measure the levels on the ramp support with a pen (12cm, 24cm, 36cm, 48cm, 60cm)

STEP 4) Place the ramp holder on the support

STEP 5) Regulate the ramp holder to the first level (12cm)

STEP 6) Set up the ramp on the ramp support

STEP 7) Place the marble on the top of the ramp

STEP 8) Start the timer when the marble begins its descent

STEP 9) Stop the timer when the marble reaches the end of the ramp

STEP 10) Record the time

STEP 11) Repeat steps 4-7 two more times for the same level

3
STEP 12) Repeat steps 3-7 for the remaining 4 levels s (24cm, 36cm, 48cm, 60cm)

STEP 14) Clear all the materials

STEP 15) Calculate the average time for all five levels

STEP 16) Calculate the velocity

Materials: Specific list of what I need, including quantities

1 ramp (117 cm)
1 marble
1 ruler
1 timer
1 ramp support (60cm)
1 ramp holder
1 pen

Schema of the experiment:

CRITERION C
Raw Data

Table showing the time of descent of the marble during the 5 incline levels

4
 TIME TO DESCEND RAMP
Ramp height
(cm) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 (cm) Average time
(seconds) (seconds)

12 cm 1.91 1.74 1.50 1.72

24 cm 1.06 0.13 0.90 1.09

36 cm 1.05 1.02 1.00 1.02

48 cm 0.70 0.77 0.63 0.70

60 cm 0.76 0.66 0.40 0.61

Data Processing: Write the formulas you use, and show a few examples
Firstly we will add the three trials of each distance and divide it by three to find their average.
- Time = trial 1 + trial 2 + trial 3 / 3

12 cm: 1.72 seconds

24 cm: 1.09 seconds
36 cm: 1.02 seconds
48 cm: 0.70 seconds
60 cm: 0.61 seconds

And now we have our averages alongside the distance of the ramp, which is 117 centimetres. To find
the velocity, we will have to do distance divided by the time for each of the five heights.
- V = D / T (velocity = distance / time)

12 cm: 68.02 cm/seconds

24 cm: 107.34 cm/seconds
36 cm: 114.71 cm/seconds
48 cm: 167.14 cm/seconds
60 cm: 191.80 cm/seconds

Processed Data Table: A new table with only your processed data

Ramp height (cm) Velocity cm/s

12 cm 68.02

24 cm 107.34

5
 36 cm 114.71

48 cm 167.14

60 cm 191.80

Graph

Patterns: Explain your data using words like increase or decrease

After processing the data, it is visible that my dependent variable, hence the velocity of the marble,
increased when the height of the ramp increased. This pattern shows an increasing best fit line. While
looking at my raw data, the time increases each time the height is increased, indicating that our
experiment was a success. All of the points are pretty close together, indicating that this experiment
was simple, straightforward, and extremely successful. When calculating the average time of each
marble, it can be seen that the time slowly decreases going up the incline levels. However, a
discrepancy is observed when the average velocity at the 36 cm height is underneath the best fit line.
If I subtract the velocity when the ramp was at 60 cm from the velocity when the ramp was at 12cm, I
have an average of a 2.6 cm/s velocity increase for every centimetre I add to the height of the ramp.
Analysing the results from all heights, I noticed that the only height that is substantially deviating
from the average is when the ramp is at 36 cm high. At this height, the increase versus the previous
ramp height measurement (24 cm) was only 0.6 cm/s instead of the 2.6 cm/s average. The speed then
rapidly goes up again, showing that there might have been a problem with the 36 cm line. This does
not affect the overall results of the experiment. As well as this, Trial 3 in the 60 cm height was much
less in time. I think this was due to the ramp falling apart, so we had to build it back up again, and it
6
wasn’t in the same place. These deviations are due to manual human error in either releasing the
marble by hand or in recording the time the marble descends the ramp. This looks evident as, in all
other height levels, I have obtained a consistent increase in velocity aligned with the average I have
calculated above.

Evaluating the Hypothesis: Discuss your graph and data to evaluate if your hypothesis
was supported or not.
My hypothesis stated the marble would have a faster speed on a higher incline because of the
gravitational energy being turned into kinetic energy. To test this hypothesis, a marble was rolled
down a ramp on different incline levels (12cm, 24cm, 36cm, 48cm, 60cm). This was done three times
to provide precise results.

After doing the experiment, I can state that my hypothesis was supported. As the data shows, the
velocity of the marble did indeed increase as the incline increased. For this reason, we can see a
positive trend line in my graph. I agree with my reasoning for my hypothesis. The ball is being dragged
down the slope by gravity. As a result, the marble at the top of the ramp possesses gravitational
potential energy, which is the force that will draw it down the slope. I knew this information because
in class we studied, and I also did some research in addition to the information I had already acquired.
As I mentioned above there was a small decrease in the points on the trend line for the 36 cm level.
The reason for this was the inaccuracy in stopping the timer at the correct time. This being said, the
results are not affected and my hypothesis is accurate. The correlation between these 2 variables
(height of ramp and velocity of marble) can be observed by the position of the line in my graph.

Through this experiment, I learnt that incline does affect the velocity of an object because the higher
the incline the more gravitational potential energy (GPE), the more GPE the more kinetic energy
converted and the object will go. So that as the incline increases, the velocity will also increase.

Evaluating the Method & Suggesting Improvements: Discuss the reliability and
validity of your method, and suggest improvements. (add as many points as you need)

METHOD SIGNIFICANCE IMPROVEMENT

The time wasn’t precise High Take a video of each trial done,
because we were too slow or so then we can slow the video
fast to stop the timer down and have the exact time.

The measurement of the Medium Using a measuring tape instead

incline levels and the ramp of a ruler so that we don’t have to
weren’t exactly precise mark the spot of the ruler.

7
 We had to touch the marble Medium Assess the possibility to develop
when releasing it, which a mechanical barrier to release
caused us to accidentally push the marble without having to
it sometimes. touch it with the hands. This
process improvement could help
to time better the trials.

The marble went too far or we Low Put a sort of barrier at the end of
lost it the ramp so that we don’t waste
time searching for the marble.

Overall, our method was clear and concise. We were able to follow our method and carry out the
experiment. I have achieved the results as expected without major disruptions and issues

Conclusion
In conclusion, we executed the experiment accurately and precisely. Using the results obtained, I was
able to prove that my hypothesis was supported. It demonstrates that there is a significant correlation
between the incline of the ramp and the velocity of the marble.

We encountered very few issues during the experiment. The main alternative I suggest is to take a
video and then find the exact time the marble was released and ended its descent. This would
eventually result in much more accurate results.

After conducting the experiment, as an extension, it would be interesting to evaluate the impact of the
mass of a marble on its velocity. This could be compared to the results of this experiment to see if
there are similarities.