NAME BLOCK

LAB: VELOCITY vs. RAMP ANGLE

In this activity you will be looking at the relationship between the angle of a ramp and the average velocity of a ball bearing rolling down the ramp. You will set up a ramp using 5 different angles. The ramp length is 1.0m. You will then roll a ball bearing down the ramp, determining the time with a stopwatch, and use the time and ramp length to calculate the average velocity for each of the 5 ramp angles.

Hypothesis:The average velocity of the ball bearing will be proportional to the ramp angle.

Control:

Independent Variable:

Dependent Variable:

Constants:

  • 5pts. You must show all work on a calculation page.
  • Remember, the ramp length (Distance) is going to be 1.0m.
  • Work quietly.
  • Stay on task.
  • Make careful measurements.
  • Clean up when you are done.
  • 5pts. Return all materials to their proper place on the lab table when done.

PART A. Control Procedure (See the Control Data chart): Set the ramp up at a 30degree angle as measured with the protractor. Roll the ball down the ramp 10 times, each time recording the time on the Control Data Chart. Use each recorded time and the length of the ramp (1m) to calculate the average trial speed of the ball using s=d/t. These calculations must be on your calculation page. Determine the average of these speeds and record this on the Control Data Chart. This is your control value.

PART B. Experimental Procedure(See the Experimental Data chart)::

  1. Set up the ramp and adjust the angle for the first trial set.
  2. Run the five trials for the first ramp angle and determine the average time. Use the average time to determine the average speed for this ramp angle using s=d/t.
  3. Do steps 1 through 3 for the remaining ramp angles, running 5 trials for each angle.
  4. 5pts. Construct a graph of Ramp angle vs. Average Velocity.

A. CONTROL DATA CHART

Control Trial / Control Angle (deg) / Control Time (s) / Average Speed for Trial
1 / 30
2 / 30
3 / 30
4 / 30
5 / 30
6 / 30
7 / 30
8 / 30
9 / 30
10 / 30
xxxxxxxxxxxxx / xxxxxxxxxxxxx / Average of Control Trials: Control Value

B. EXPERIMENTAL DATA CHART

Ramp Angle / Trial 1
Time / Trial 2
Time / Trial 3
Time / Trial 4
Time / Trial 5 Time / Ave Time / Ave. Speed
15
20
25
30
35

Hand in: This lab paper when completed.

Please include:

Data charts, Graph, Calculation page(5pts each). This means the lab is worth 20pts. Including 5pts. For the cleanup.

Cleanup / 5pts. Completed / 0pts.Not Completed
1. Data Charts / 5pts. Completed / 0pts.Not Completed
2. *Calculation Page / 5pts. Organized. Set up. Units carried through calculations. / 0-4pts.Not organized. Not set up. Units Not carried through calculations.
3. Graph / 5pts. BFL. Neatly organized. Labeled. Titled. Full Sheet or MS Excell®. / 0-4pts. BFL. Not neatly organized. Labels missing. Untitled. Full Sheet or MS Excell®.
YOUR SCORE:

* Any calculation that involves an equation must be included.