Physics Lab Kinematics Essay

Submitted By jmathew25
Words: 875
Pages: 4

Different Types of Motion Lab

INTRODUCTION: There are a number of devices and methods for collecting motion data in the laboratory. A motion sensor is one such device that acts as an ultrasonic transceiver. It transmits invisible ultrasonic waves into space. These waves are reflected from objects in their path back to their motion sensor’s receiver. Your motion sensors are attached to a hand-held SPARK device that will generate data for position, speed, acceleration and time. As an experimenter, you can choose which type of data to collect. In this investigation you will use a motion sensor to collect position-time, velocity-time, and acceleration- time data for a motorized and non-motorized cart as it moves along a ramp.
PURPOSE:
To determine which type of motion a motorized or non-motorized car will undergo as it moves along a ramp.
EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS:
Hand-held SPARK
Motion Sensor
Metre Stick
Retort Stand
Ring Clamp
Masking Tape Graph Paper
PAStracks
PAStrack connector pieces and feet
Dynamic Track End Stoppers
PROCEDURES:
1. Connect the motion sensor to the back of the hand-held SPARK device. Ensure that the switch at the top of the motion sensor is set to cart motion and not human motion.
2. Attach three PAStracks together by sliding a connector piece into the ’50 cm’ end of one track section. Push it hard until you hear a snap. Slide the other track section onto the same connector piece. Push it until it snaps.
3. Turn the track upside down and tighten the screws on the connector.
4. On the end of your three connected PAStracks, place a Dynamic Tracks End Stop by screwing into place. Place the track on a retort stand (with a ring clamp) as shown in Figure 2 below.
5. After turning on the SPARK (power button is located at the bottom), click on Build.
6. On the next screen, highlight the Position, Velocity and Acceleration using your fingers and then click on the table button to build your data table.
End Stop
7. Place the motorized cart on the top of the track. When you are ready to begin collecting data, have one group member turn on the motorized cart while another member begins collecting data. To have the SPARK begin collecting data, click the green play button . It should be collecting data when it turns orange.
8. When the cart has reaches the end stop, click on the orange play button, which will now turn green.
9. Copy the data onto another piece of paper.
10. Complete a second trial of data collection.
11. Repeat steps 6-9 for the non-motorized cart. Make sure that when you are ready for data collection, you release the cart and allow it to roll straight down the ramp. Remember to stop your data collection as soon as it hits the end stop. Have a group member physically catch the cart as soon as it hits the end stop.

Analysis:
1.) ON THE GRAPH --------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.) For the motorized car it is mostly uniform motion because there is a set speed and since it is a machine the speeds won’t change, but in the non- motorized car it was non-uniform because the car had many forces acting on it and it was uncontrolled.
3.)

4.)

5.)

6.) ON THE GRAPH PAPER ------------------------------------------------------------------------
7.) For the motorized car