Velocity and Acceleration LabName: ______

Objectives: Upon the completion of this lab activity the student will:

1. Recognize the difference between velocity and acceleration.
2. Complete correctly calculations involving velocity and acceleration.
3. Create a lab report using the data collected to display knowledge of velocity and acceleration with graph interpretation.

Problem: How does changing the angle of an incline influence the velocity and acceleration of an object rolling down it?

Remember to make a HYPOTHESIS for this problem!

Materials: incline, protractor, timing device (second hand on clock or personal watch), meter stick, graph paper, notebook, rolling objects.

Procedure:(You will complete a lab report based on this lab. Your lab report should be hand written in your journal to turn in next class period. Graphs and data chart can be cut out and pasted into the journal. Make sure you explain your data.)

1. Set up an inclined plane at an angle of 10 degrees with the horizontal.

** Note: You can adjust the incline with your books to get to this
angle!

2. Measure the exact length of the incline in centimeters to
the nearest tenth of a centimeter.

3. Taking your rolling object to the top of the incline, allow your object to roll down the
incline. Record the exact amount of time that is required to do this.
4. Repeat step three for at least three trials (two more times).

5. Calculate the average velocity and acceleration of your object down the incline by
using the following formula: v= d/t a= v/t

6. Repeat steps one through five for your object, however change the angle of the
incline to 25 degrees.

7. Repeat steps one through five for the object at angles of inclination of 40 degrees.

8. Repeat procedure steps one through six with a different object of different mass
if available.

Data: Your data should be listed in the table.The following information should be recorded for each trial; distance, time, velocity,
acceleration.

Rolling object identity ______

Incline Angle (in degrees) / Time(trial 1) / Time (trial 2) / Time (trial 3) / Average Time for three trials) / Distance (length) of incline / Velocity (cm/s) (avg of your three or more trials) / Acceleration (cm/s2) (avg of your three or more trials)
10
25
40
40 (but using an object of different mass)

** Construct a graph for velocity of the object at the different angles of the incline. This should be a line graph. Place the angle values for the incline on the horizontal or x-axis and the velocity values on the y-axis. Remember that all blocks on each axis must have an equal value when you plot this information.

(Reminder: Utilize proper graphing techniques. These include giving your graphs and
labeling your axes.)

** Construct a graph for acceleration of the car at the different angles of the incline. This should be a line graph. Place the angle values for the incline on the horizontal or x-axis and the acceleration values on the y-axis. Remember that all blocks on each axis must have an equal value when you plot this information.

Title ______

Title ______

Conclusion Questions: Place the answers to each of these questions in the conclusion section of your lab report. Utilize complete sentences in formulating each of your responses.

1. How did changing the slope of the incline change your velocity and acceleration values?
2. Was the graph that you constructed for acceleration linear in nature (a line)?
Why or why didn't it take this shape?

3. Why did you plot the angle of the incline on the x-axis of your graph? (There was a
reason this was in the directions.)

4. What force(s) caused the object to roll down the incline?

5. Based upon your data, speculate how increasing the mass of a moving object
would increase its velocity down the incline?

6. Why was it important to do multiple trials of this activity?