Name: ______

Date: ______

Block: ______

Linear Motion Graphs

Physics

Objectives:

  • Analyze the motion of a student walking across the room.
  • Predict, sketch, and test distance vs. time kinematics graphs.

Materials:

Vernier LabQuest
Vernier Motion Detector
meter stick

Procedure:

Part 1: Preliminary Experiments

1.Plug the Motion Detector into the DIG 1 port on the LabQuest.

3.Turn on the LabQuest. It should automatically recognize the Motion Detector and display a distance on the screen. You may also hear it clicking. This is the sound wave it is sending out.

4.The 2nd tab at the top of the LabQuestis the graphing tab. Select this tab. Select “Analyze”drop down. Select “Motion Match” and then “New Position Match”. You will see your first background graph on the screen. For the first part of this lab, you will be ignoring the graph that is already shown on the screen. NOTE: The graph on the LabQuest should show a scale that goes from 0 to 3 m and 0 to 5 s. Plan accordingly. If it has a different range, select “Graph” and change the scale. On Graph #1 label the X and Y axis. Label the first 3 vertical tick marks and everyfourthhorizontal tick mark.

5.You will make a graph of your motion when you walk away from the detector with a slow constant velocity. To do this, stand 0.5 m (this is the closest it will register) in front of the Motion Detector and have your lab partner select “Play”. Walk VERY SLOWLY (about baby crawling speed!) away from the Motion Detector when you hear it begin to click rapidly. The graph will be drawn as you walk. Sketch this graph (ignore the background graph).

  1. Make sure to label the graphs with a description of the slope. (positive, negative, steep, shallow, slightly, medium, very)
  2. Repeat the last step and create graphs for:
  3. Walking quickly away.
  4. An object at rest
  5. An object moving in the negative direction, towards the Motion Detector, VERY slowly.
  6. An object moving in the negative direction, towards the Motion Detector, at a faster pace.

Please label all of your graphs clearly!!!

Part 2: Distance vs. Time Graph Matching

8.In this part, you are going to try to come as close as you can to matching the given graph on the screen.

9.The program can generate random target distance graphs for you to match.

10.Sketch a copy of the graph shown on your LabQuest and predicthow you would walk to produce this target graph. (Graph #7)

11.To test your prediction, choose a starting position and stand at that point. Start data collection by pressing “Play”. When you hear the Motion Detector begin to click, walk in such a way that the graph of your motion matches the target graph on the calculator screen.

12.If you were not successful, repeat the process until your motion closely matches the graph on the screen. Sketch the graph with your best attempt. (Graph #7) Describe what you actually had to do to make the graph.

  1. Allow each member in your group to perform a distance graph match (Steps 10-12) with a newgraph just like you did in Step 4. Predict and sketch for one of your remaining group members graphs and have them put it on their lab paper. (Hint: #7 should be different for each group member)
  2. Sketch a parabola (not a V) opening upward in Graph #8 and predict how you would make it. Ignore whatever graph is in the background and walk in such a way that you produce a parabola. When you have a parabola show it to your teacher to be initialed. Write your actual description under Graph #8.

Graph #1

Graph #2

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Graph #3

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Graph #4

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Graph #5

Walking VERY slowly toward

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Graph #6

Quickly Toward

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Graph #7

Sketch the background graph and your graph. Describe what you did to make it.

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Graph #8

Sketch a parabola. Describe what you did to make it ______

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DT Match Lab

Name______

Period ______

Analysis Questions: (Use complete sentences)

1) What does the direction of the slope on a DT graph tell you?

2) What does the steepness of the slope on a DT graph tell you?

2) What type of motion is occurring when the slope of a DT graph is zero(a flat line)?

3) What type of motion is occurring when the slope of a DT graph is constant (a straight line-but not necessarily flat )?

4) What type of motion is occurring when the slope of a DT graph is changing (a curved line)?

5) Explain how you would make a parabola which opens downward.