University:
Eastern Kentucky University
Course:
PHY 131 | College Physics I
Academic year:

2021
Views:

356

Pages:

3
Author:

ui4s3l4md25

Motion with Constant Acceleration Lab Report Introduction In this lab , I used a simulation to measure the position and velocity of a cart as it accelerated along a gentle surface. This lab was a virtual lab, in which I calculated the average velocity of the cart, and used velocity vs. time graphs to determine the acceleration of the cart. Purpose: To observe how an object's position and velocity change while moving at a constant acceleration. Question: How does an object's position and velocity change as it accelerates? Hypothesis: If there is a greater fan speed, there will be greater acceleration because greater fan speed gives more power to move the cart. Independent Variable: Fan speed Dependent Variable: acceleration of cart Materials I used ● Computer Procedure Step 1: Open the fan simulation. Step 2: Put fan speed on low to identify any changes in position, velocity, and acceleration in the cart. Step 3: Put fan speed on medium to identify any changes in position, velocity, and acceleration in the cart. Step 4: Put fan speed on high to identify any changes in position, velocity, and acceleration in the cart. Step 5: Calculate the data and put it in a table. Data Elapsed time (s) Cart Speed (Low fan speed) (cm/s) Cart Speed (Medium fan speed) (cm/s) Cart Speed (High fan speed) (cm/s) 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1 18.0 24.0 32.0 2 36.0 48.0 64.0 3 54.0 72.0 96.0 4 72.0 96.0 128.0 5 90.0 120.0 160.0 6 108.0 144.0 7 126.0 Low fan speed Elasped time to finish line Δt (s) Medium fan speed High fan speed 7.4 6.4 5.6 Total distance Δx (cm) 500 500 500 Average velocity vavg = Δx/Δt (cm/s) 67.6 78.1 89.3 Acceleration a (cm/s2) 18.0 24.0 32.0 Fan Speed Low Medium Observations of Position vs Time Graphs The line is curved. The positions of the cart are further apart because the velocity increased. Similar to low speed fan graphs but the slope is steeper. It can move further each second. High Slope is even more steeper than the medium fan speed graph. The cart moves the farest each second because the speed is the greatest; so it takes less time to cover distance. Conclusion In conclusion, the experiment helped me know how acceleration and speed aﬀects the movement of an object. I used the total distance traveled by the cart and divided it by the elapsed time for each cart, to determine the average velocity for each cart. Overall, my hypothesis was correct and my data supports my hypothesis as well.