PARTICLE MOVING ALONG A STRAIGHT LINE

(MACHINE PROBLEM NO. 1)

PROBLEM STATEMENT.

The task is mainly to create a comprehensive Excel program which allows users to be
able to plot the graph and identify velocity, acceleration and position values using the given
equation.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

For Problem no. 1, an excel program is accomplished to answer the given items on the
first problem. Initially to satisfy the given problem, input values would include the student’s
student number given as A, B, C, D and E subsequently along with the t1 and t2 time values as
shown below.

As the given equation of s=At4+Bt3+ Ct2+Dt-E is used as reference, corresponding

velocity and acceleration equations are derived by taking the derivative of the given equation.
The velocity equation is taken by taking the derivative of s(t) while the acceleration equation is
derived by taking the derivative of v(t) as shown below.

With this, automatic calculating feature of excel is utilized to be able to solve

automatically the values of position, velocity and acceleration with respect to the initial time (t1)
and the final time(t2) as shown below.
 Graphs of the s-t graph, v-t graph and a-t graph is identified with the automatic graphing
feature of Excel using the 2 points created from the initial and final time values. As the input
values are changed, the 3 graphs would automatically change also showing the initial and final
values of acceleration, velocity and position with respect to the time values placed on the given
above.

In line with this, the displacement and distance values were calculated by taking the
integral or the area under the curve of the function v(t) as shown below.

In the excel formula, calculating for the area under the curve is used to identify the
respective displacement based on the v-t graph as shown below.
 In relation to this, as the particle is moving on a straight line, the displacement and
distance values would be equal.

PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED
On solving for this machine problem, problem mainly occur on solving for the
displacement of the given problem on which it involves integration of the given velocity
equation. This became a problem as excel does not offer a straight forward calculation for the
integration of the function. To get around this, instead of taking the integral of the equation, the
area under the curve is identified by taking the x and y values for the v-t graph as reference. In
this way, solving for the Displacement would be automated and for each adjustment of the given,
the displacement and distance is automatically solved.

REFERENCES
 Introduction to Rectilinear Kinematics: Continuous Motion. PDF file.
https://www.kpu.ca/sites/default/files/Faculty%20of%20Science
%20%26%20Horticulture/Physics/CH12%20-%201%20-%20KinematicEquations.pdf
 One Zero Infinity RA. (2021, May 23). Integration using Excel [Video]. YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4asmI93rpw
 A PROJECTILE LAUNCHED AT V INCLINED AT AN ANGLE θ FROM
THE HORIZONTAL
(Machine Problem no. 2)
PROBLEM STATEMENT
The task is mainly to create a comprehensive Excel program which allows users to be
able to solve for the corresponding velocity and position values given a graph containing
acceleration, height and time values.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Initially, the input values for this problem would be the time value (t1) and the velocity
value (V) as shown below. Consequently, the graph of these values and equation of the trendline
would automatically generate using the Excel Graphing functions.
x
g (release height time (t1)
V (m/s) Angle θ (m/s^2) point) (h1) m s
20 45 9.8 100 10 2

A B C D E F
10.204081 1.44307506 2.88615013
6 14.3462173 8.68427125 28.2842712
 projecti le launch
30

25

20

15

10

0
1 2 3 4 5 6

The maximum height (hmax) reached by the projectile can be calculated as:
2 2
V sin ⁡ (θ)
h max= =¿ ¿
2g
The time it takes to reach hmax (tmax) can be calculated as:
V sin ⁡( θ) 20 sin ⁡( 45)
t max= =
g 9.8
The time it takes before it lands x distance from the release point (total time of flight, total) can
be calculated as:
2V sin ⁡(θ) 2∗20 sin ⁡( 45)
t total= =
g 9.8
The time it takes to reach height h1 can be calculated as:
t h 1=V sin ⁡(θ)± √ ¿ ¿ ¿
The position of the projectile at time t1 with respect to its launching point can be calculated as:
PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED
On solving for the machine problem, problems mainly occurred on solving for the
respective, Velocity and Position values for the inputs value on the last part of the machine
problem 2 as neither of the parameters can be solved using only the input value of time. To solve
this problem, I manually inputted the values from the tables on the problem to find its position
and to know the velocity of the projectile to interpret the problems.
REFERENCES
- https://k12.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Science_and_Technology/Physics/
04%3A_Motion_in_Two-Dimensions/
4.03%3A_Projectile_Motion_for_an_Object_Launched_at_an_Angle

DETERMINING VELOCITY AND POSITION GIVEN THE A-T GRAPH

(Machine Problem no. 3)

PROBLEM STATEMENT
The task is mainly to create a comprehensive Excel program which allows users to be
able to solve for the corresponding velocity and position values given a graph containing
acceleration and time values.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Initially, the input values for this problem would be the time values (t1, t2, and t3) and the
acceleration values (a1, a2, a3) as shown below. Consequently, the graph of these values and
equation of the trendline would automatically generate using the Excel Graphing functions.
 12 11

10 9

8
a(m/s^2)

4
2
2
0
0
0 5 10 20
t (sec)

In order to solve the Velocity corresponding each given time and acceleration, the
equation a(t)= dv/dt is used as the reference. From this equation, it is deduced that in order to
solve for the velocity, a(t) should be integrated. To take the integral of the function a(t), the area
under the curve is calculated as shown below.

In the same manner, in solving for the respective position values, the equation v(t)=ds/dt
is used and in order to identify the relative position values, the integral of the equation v(t)
should be taken. To take the integral of the given function, the area under the curve is calculated
as shown below.
 On the other hand, in solving for the respective Acceleration, Velocity and Position values
for t4 (which must be between 0 and t3), interpolation of values is used. The initial solved values
from the initial time, acceleration, velocity and position values are used as reference to
interpolate the corresponding values for t4 as shown below.

PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED
On solving for the machine problem, problems mainly occurred on solving for the
respective Acceleration, Velocity and Position values for the input t4 value on the last part of the
machine problem 3 as neither of the parameters can be solved using only the input value of time.
To solve this problem, interpolation came into account on which the previous solved values from
the first 3 values of time and acceleration would be used to identify the respective acceleration,
velocity and position values for an input value t4. Excel command “FORECAST” is used for the
interpolation directly referencing the respective time values to its corresponding previously
solved acceleration, velocity and position values. This way, Acceleration, Velocity and Position
values of t4 would be solved automatically such that t4 would only be greater than 0 and less
than the value of t3.
REFERENCES
 Introduction to Rectilinear Kinematics: Continuous Motion. PDF file.
https://www.kpu.ca/sites/default/files/Faculty%20of%20Science
%20%26%20Horticulture/Physics/CH12%20-%201%20-%20KinematicEquations.pdf
 One Zero Infinity RA. (2021, May 23). Integration using Excel [Video]. YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4asmI93rpw

 Excel Off The Grid. (2021, April 15). Interpolate with Excel | FORECAST function can

interpolate | Excel Off The Grid [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=mD09E5nD7_4