MECH 1220 - Lab 4 – Inclining Gravity

Name:___________________________
Objective
For a cart rolling up and down an inclined track, you will determine the effect of the mass of the cart and
the angle of the incline on the motion of the cart. In addition, you will analyze the slope of a position-
time graph and the slope of a velocity-time graph.
Equipment
Motion Sensor, Capstone Software, PAScar Dynamics System, Base and Support Rod, Angle Indicator
Procedure
1. Attach the USB Link to the laptop.
2. Attach the Motion Sensor to the USB Link. Put the range selection switch on the Motion Sensor
to the cart setting.
3. Place the PASCO track on a table, place the cart on the track and attach the Motion Sensor to
one end of the track.

Part 1 - Effect of Constant Mass with Varying Angle

1. Incline the track at 2.0° as illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Equipment setup

2. Open the Capstone software and save the experiment as “Inclining-Gravity-Varying-Angle”. Set
the sample rate for 40 Hz.
3. Zero the sensor. Place the cart on the track and hold at about halfway up the track. The spring
on the cart should be facing the end stop.
4. Click Record.
5. Release the cart and let the cart have a few runs up and down the track.
6. Click Stop.
7. Name this data run “Cart_Mass_2.0_deg”.
8. Change the angle of the incline to 5° and repeat steps 3 through 6.
9. Name this data run “Cart_Mass_5.0_deg”.
10. Change the angle of the incline to 9° and repeat steps 3 through 6.
11. Name this data run “Cart_Mass_9_deg”.
12. Save the Activity and close Capstone.

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Part 2 - Effect of Constant Angle with Varying Mass

1. Open the Capstone software and save the experiment as “Inclining-Gravity-Varying-Mass”. Click
the sample rate for 40 Hz.
2. Set the angle at 5°, add a 250 g mass to the cart.
3. Zero the sensor. Place the cart on the track and hold at about halfway up the track. The spring
on the cart should be facing the end stop.
4. Click Record.
5. Release the cart and let the cart have a few runs up and down the track.
6. Click Stop.
7. Name this data run “Cart_Mass_Plus_250_Angle_5_deg”.
8. Repeat steps 3 through 6 with a 500 g mass on the cart.
9. Name this data run “Cart_Mass_Plus_500_Angle_5_deg”.
10. Repeat steps 3 through 6 with a 750 g mass on the cart.
11. Name this data run “Cart_Mass_Plus_750_Angle_5_deg”.
12. Save the Activity and close Capstone.

Analysis
Notice in the velocity plot that the velocity of the cart is positive part of the time (above the x-axis) and
negative part of the time (below the x-axis). The Motion Sensor records motion away from it as positive
and motion towards it as negative.

Part 1 - Constant Mass, Varying Angle

1. On the position time curve, using the “Slope tool” , determine the value of the slope on a
curved section of the plot (pick any point). Record the slope and time at this point in Table 1.
(You will need to use the “Coordinates Tool” to determine the corresponding time).
2. On the velocity-time plot, determine the velocity at the same time as recorded in #1. Record this
value in Table 1.
Note: the slope of the position-time plot should be the same as the velocity at the same time.
3. Select a region on the straight portion of the velocity-time plot, click the “Select Curve Fit”
button and select ‘Linear Fit’. Record the slope of the velocity-time curve in Table 2.
4. On the acceleration-time plot, use the mean determine the value of the constant acceleration
and record the value in Table 2.
Note: the slope of the velocity-time plot is the same as the constant acceleration.
5. On the velocity-time plot, select a straight portion of the plot (it will be easier to select the
positive velocity). Find the area under the curve. Record the upper and lower values of the time
and the area in Table 3.
6. On the position time curve, determine and record in Table 3 the displacement at the upper-time
and lower-time limits. Determine the change in displacement between the upper and lower
limits of time and record this value in Table 3.
Note: the area under the velocity time plot is equal to the change in displacement.
7. Repeat for remaining runs.

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 MECH 1220 - Lab 4 – Inclining Gravity

Slope of Position Time

Corresponding time where Velocity at corresponding time
at any point (m/s)
slope was taken (s) (m/s) (from velocity-time plot)
(from velocity-time plot)

Cart_Mass_2_deg

Cart_Mass_5_deg

Cart_Mass_9_deg

Table 1. Data from Position-time and Velocity- time plots of cart with constant mass

Slope of Velocity-Time plot (m/s2) Constant Acceleration (m/s2)

(from velocity-time plot) (from acceleration –time curve)

Cart_Mass_2_deg

Cart_Mass_5_deg

Cart_Mass_9_deg

Table 2. Data from Velocity-time and Acceleration-time plots of cart with constant mass

Area under Velocity- Lower Upper Displacement at Displacement at Change in

time curve (m) time (s) time (s) lower time (m) upper time (m) displacement (m)

Cart_Mass_2_deg

Cart_Mass_5_deg

Cart_Mass_9_deg

Table 3. Data from Velocity-time and Position-time plots of cart with constant mass

Part 2 - Constant Angle, Varying Mass

1. On the position time curve, using the “Slope tool” , determine the value of the slope on a
curved section of the plot (pick any point). Record the slope and time at this point in Table 4.
(You will need to use the “Coordinates Tool” to determine the corresponding time).
2. On the velocity-time plot, determine the velocity at the same time as recorded in #1. Record this
value in Table 4.
Note: the slope of the position-time plot should be the same as the velocity at the same time.
3. Select a region on the straight portion of the velocity-time plot, click the “Select Curve Fit”
button and select ‘Linear Fit’. Record the slope of the velocity-time curve in Table 5.
4. On the acceleration-time plot, use the mean determine the value of the constant acceleration
and record the value in Table 5.
Note: the slope of the velocity-time plot is the same as the constant acceleration.

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 MECH 1220 - Lab 4 – Inclining Gravity

5. On the velocity-time plot, select a straight portion of the plot (it will be easier to select the
positive velocity). Find the area under the curve. Record the upper and lower values of the time
and the area in Table 6.
6. On the position time curve, determine and record in Table 6 the displacement at the upper-time
and lower-time limits. Determine the change in displacement between the upper and lower
limits of time and record this value in Table 6.
Note: the area under the velocity time plot is equal to the change in displacement.
7. Repeat for remaining runs.

Slope of Position Time at Corresponding time Velocity at corresponding

any point (m/s) where slope was taken time (m/s)
(from velocity-time plot) (s) (from velocity-time plot)

Cart_Plus_250_Angle_5_deg

Cart_Plus_500_Angle_5_deg

Cart_Plus_750_Angle_5_deg

Table 4. Data from Position-time and Velocity- time plots of cart with varying mass

Slope of Velocity-Time plot

Constant Acceleration (m/s2)
(m/s2)
(from acceleration –time curve)
(from velocity-time plot)

Cart_Plus_250_Angle_5_deg

Cart_Plus_500_Angle_5_deg

Cart_Plus_750_Angle_5_deg

Table 5. Data from Velocity-time and Acceleration-time plots of cart with varying mass

Area under Velocity- Lower Upper Displacement at Displacement at Change in

time curve (m) time (s) time (s) lower time (m) upper time (m) displacement (m)

Cart_Plus_250_Angle_5_deg

Cart_Plus_500_Angle_5_deg

Cart_Plus_750_Angle_5_deg

Table 6. Data from Velocity-time and Position-time plots of cart with varying mass󠆮

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Questions

1. Does changing the mass affect the acceleration of the cart?

2. Does changing the angle affect the acceleration of the cart?

3. What is the relationship between the slope of the position-time graph and velocity?

4. What is the primary factor that causes the cart to accelerate on an inclined plane?

5. Do the experimental values follow the formula a = g sinѲ?

Hint: Plot the data from the table below and determine the slope of the line. Remember to use a
trendline.

Acceleration a = g*sinѲ
sinѲ
m/s2 g=9.81 m/s2
Cart_Mass_2_deg
Cart_Mass_5_deg
Cart_Mass_9_deg

Acceleration vs. Sinθ

1.2

1
Acceleration a (m/s2)

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
Sinθ

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