Activity 1

Roll, Roll, and Away

Objectives:

Calculate the velocity and acceleration of the toy car rolling down an inclined plane; and
Describe the motion of an object given a distance, time velocity and acceleration;
Compare the velocity and acceleration of the toy car at different distances.

Materials Needed:
board/plank (at least 200 cm long)
timing device (stopwatch)
toy car

Procedure:

1. Set up an inclined plane by putting one end of the plane on top of stack of books. Label the
plane as 40 cm, 60 cm, and 80 cm.
2. Roll the toy car from each labelled point starting with 40 cm mark.. Start the timer as the toy
car is released, and stop the timer when the toy car reached the bottom of the inclined plane.
3. Ask your partner to record the time (t) taken by the toy car to travel each distance (d) down
the plane. Perform three trials from each mark. Use the table below for your data.
4. Solve for the acceleration of the toy car using the equation of uniformly accelerated motion.
5. Answer the guide questions below the table.

TABLE 1. Data on the Motion of a Rolling Tin Can

Distance Time, t (s) Velocity Acceleration

d (cm) (m/s) (m/s2)

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Ave.

20cm

60cm

80 cm
Guide Questions:

Q1. What is the velocity of the toy car in each distance?

Q2. How will you compare the velocity of the toy car in each distance travelled? Are the
velocities the same for all distances?

Q3. By how much is the velocity difference in each distance?

Q4. How will you compare the acceleration of the toy car in each distance travelled? Are the
accelerations similar?