Measurement and Graphing Lab
1.At this station, you will encounter a device known as an inertial balance. It's a metal frame that is attached to the lab table at one end and is free to vibrate at the other end. At the free end you can attach different masses. You will explore how the mass of these different masses affects the period of the inertial balance (time required for the holder to swing to and fro). To determine the period, measure the time required for the mass to swing through 10 complete cycles, then divide the time in seconds by ten. Obtain at least 6 data pairs (period vs mass). Graph your results. Be sure to place the variables on the appropriate axes.
2.At this station you will find an air track that is set at an angle to the horizontal. You are to determine how long it takes a glider to slide down a one meter section from rest. By changing the mass of the glider at least five times, you are to determine the relationship between mass and time. Graph your results and be sure to place the variables on the appropriate axes.
3.In this experiment you will utilize a spring loaded dynamics cart on a precision track.
You will try to find how the mass of the cart affects the distance it travels up the track when the spring is released. Vary the mass of the cart by 200g each time, taping the masses down so that they don't slide. Your partner should observe the maximum height the cart attains. For each mass, release the spring at least three times to obtain satisfactory distance data. Repeat this experiment with at least 5 different masses. Graph your results and be sure to place the variables on the appropriate axes
4.At this station you will find a curved track fixed to a support. When a steel sphere rolls down the track, it will fly off the end and fall to the floor. You will try to find how the change in height of the sphere affects the distance it travels before it hits the floor. First make sure that the end of the track is parallel to the table top so that the ball shoots off the track horizontally. Next, to simplify taking distance measurements, you should move the apparatus so that the end of the track is flush with the edge of the table (see diagram). Perform a trial run to see approximately where the sphere strikes the floor. Place a long sheet of white paper on the floor so that the sphere is sure to land on it regardless of the position from which it is released: tape the paper into position. Place a sheet or two of carbon paper on the white paper so that when the ball strikes it a mark will be left on the paper underneath.
Measure the distance from the table to some point (top or bottom) on the sphere. Move the sphere up the track so that its height is increased some amount. Release the sphere from six different heights. For each height measure the horizontal distance which the sphere traveled.
5.At this station you will work with an air track that is set at a small angle. Place a glider at the low end and allow it to rest against the rubber band. This is the zero position, and it can easily be measured against the ruler on the side of the air track. Push the glider against the rubber band, until it has been stretched a distance of one cm. Release the glider and allow it to slide up to a new height. You are interested in determining how the amount of stretch of the rubber band affects the distance the glider travels. For each amount you stretch the rubber band, perform several trials. You must be very careful to release the glider the same way each time. You might find it helpful to use the side of a pencil as your release mechanism. A range of one to five cm stretch intervals is recommended. Graph your results and be sure to place the variables on the appropriate axes.