Kennedy Van Allen
SPH 4U1
February 20, 2014
M. Reid
Purpose: To determine both qualitative and quantitative properties of the motion of a cart on an inclined plane on position vs. time, velocity vs. time and acceleration vs. time graphs.
Question: Which properties of the cart’s motion can be determined from examining each of the three graphs?
Hypothesis: The predictions on the type of motion demonstrated by the cart-qualitatively- are shown below.
Materials:
Laptop computer
Motion sensor equipment
Dynamic cart and track
Procedure
1. Set up all equipment.
2. Roll the cart up the incline toward the sensor and record the data for all three graphs.
3. Carefully analyze the graphs to determine which information can be pulled off which graph.
Observations:
Discussion:
1. In the first graph, the motion demonstrated by the cart begins with a leftward, negative velocity, moving from a fast velocity to a slow one. This is then mirrored at the 3s mark where the cart moves away from the motion sensor and demonstrates a positive, changing velocity and acceleration.
In the second graph, the motion demonstrated by the cart begins with a rightward, fast, negative velocity, gradually becoming slower as it approaches the 3s mark. From there, it demonstrates a fast, positive rightward velocity as it moves away from the sensor. In the third graph, the acceleration moves from a larger value to a smaller value on the y axis and becomes closer to the x axis after the 3s mark when the object begins accelerating in the opposite direction.
From all three graphs, it can be readily determined that the cart goes from a fast velocity-originating from the push start- to a slower one as the cart gets closer to the motion sensor and begins to change direction at the 3s mark. At