RAMP LAB
Objective: Analyze the results of the properties of motion using graphs and mathematical representations.
Vocabulary:
Displacement: The distance between the initial and final position.
Acceleration: The capacity for an object to speed up.
Variables:
Dependent Variable: acceleration, time, and speed
Independent Variables:displacement and height
Trial 1 Steps:
Grab a number of books to use for the height (Small~1-2, Medium~ 3-4, Large~ 5-6) and 1 ramp for the displacement.
In order to record the process setup Logger Pro so that it’s facing the ramp and have someone on the other side of the ramp ready to push the object and one person ready to catch the object.
Place the object at the top of the ramp, wait a second after pressing collect, the video may lag, and then let the object go.
Repeat the process but add more books.
Collect the data and find the graphs for each video
Trial 2 Steps:
Grab a number of books (Small~1-2, Medium~ 3-4, Large~ 5-6) and choose 2 ramps this time to make the ramp longer, you may also need some books to connect the two ramps together
Setup logger pro the same as before to record the process
Place the car on top of the ramp but hold it at the very edge until someone clicks collect on the computer, after collect is clicked wait
a second before letting go of the object
Collect the data of the video and find the graph for the video using Logger Pro.
Control: The object, car, and the ramps used
Equations:
Displacement = (xf-xi) m
Acceleration = Δv/Δt m/s^2
Velocity = Δx/Δt m/s
Graphs
Explanation: As the graph gets steeper you can see that it’s in correlation with the ramp getting taller, whereas the smaller ramp isn’t as steep. On the small ramp, medium ramp, tall ramp, and long ramp it starts at zero and continues to accelerate positively with a positive velocity. As you can see the velocity graph has the linear fit to find the average slope of the velocity-time graph. Using this tool I was able to determine the acceleration is about 1.5 m/s^2.