course Phy 121
Experiment 4Distance (in centimeters)Time (in seconds)
10 1.1
15 1.55
20 2.08
25 2.11
30 2.69
35 2.79
40 3.02
45 3.1
50 3.19
Table 1. Distance (cm) vs. time (s) or a ball down a ramp.
Figure 1. Average acceleration (in cm/s) vs. distance traveled (in cm) and its uncertainties on the first ramp.
According to the results, it seems as though the apparent variations of acceleration changes are simply the result of unavoidable experimental uncertainties. The graph shows no particular relationship, and the average accelerations increase and decrease slightly as distance increases.
In order to determine the average acceleration from the results of the last experiment, the initial velocities and average velocities were used. First, the average velocity was doubled to determine the final velocity. After doubling the average velocity, the initial velocity was subtracted from the final velocity and that value became the numerator of the time of travel. So, the time of travel was divided by the change in velocity to find the average acceleration. For example:
9.09 cm/s * 2 = 18.18 cm/s (final velocity)
[18.18 cm/s – 0 cm/s (initial velocity)] / 1.10s (time of travel) =
16.53 cm/s
The variations in acceleration would most likely be in the range of variations to be expected in this experiment because many factors can affect the results, such as slightly different starting points, nudging the ball on accident, etc.
Because of the variation of the results, the hypothesis can be supported in that the ball rolling down a uniform incline is indeed independent of how fast the ball is rolling and of where the ball is on the ramp. The results support this hypothesis because there is no particular relationship between the data collected. The acceleration very slightly drops and rises in no order as distance increases.
When adding a straight horizontal line to Figure 1, it nearly passes through every rectangle on the graph, supporting the hypothesis that acceleration on the ramp is constant. The uncertainties as stated above could have had to do with why the line does not pass through every rectangle surrounding the point (nudging the ball, starting the timer too late, etc.).
I can accept labs in this format, but I need you to modify them slightly by inserting a row of '^' symbols at the beginning, and a row of '&' symbols at the end of each of your responses.
Please resubmit and make this revision on subsequent submissions.