SPH 4U Lab: To determine the angle of an inclined plane.

1. Obtain a length of ticker tape which has been attached to the trolley as it rolled down
an inclined plane.

2. The timer has a frequency of 40 Hz (ie. 40 dots per second are created), each space
between dot represents a time interval of 1/40 s.

3. Start as soon as the dots become distinguishable: mark a line through the first dot,
mark this “0”. Count four spaces and mark the dot, call this “1”. Repeat along the tape
numbering each segment consecutively.

4. Starting at “0”, measure the distances 0 1, O2, 0 3, etc. Place these values in the
“d” column of the results chart.

5. In the “t” column, note how long it took to cover these distances from the start.

6. Graph “d vs “t” and draw a smooth curve passing through (0,0).

7. At any 5 consecutive times (ie 0.1 s, 0,2 s, 0.3 s etc) create a tangent to the curve and
determine the instantaneous velocity at that time. Chart your results in the table below:

time (s) calculation of slope of tangent ( ) slope ( )

8. Using the “v” (tangent) values from 7, draw a graph of “v” vs. “t” and draw the line of
best fit.
9. Calculate the slope of the line of the v vs. t graph (show work in the space below). This
represents the acceleration of the trolley down the ramp and is the value of “g” resolved
into a component down the slope. Using the value of ”a” from your graph and g = 9.8 m/s2
determine the angle of the ramp. Note: acceleration down the ramp relationship to gravity
is given by "a = g sin Ө" where Ө is the angle of the ramp to the horizontal.

slope = find Ө:

10. Go back to the results chart given and complete it. Note each “a” obtained by
subtracting the boxes they link; ie ∆v = v2 — v1, ∆t = t 2—t1, a = ∆v/∆t

11. At the completion of the chart, average the final column to obtain a single “a” value.

12. As before, use this and g = 9.8 m/s2 to determine the angle for the ramp in the space
below:

13. Measure the actual angle of the ramp and record here. ___________________

14. Compare each of your two angles to the known value. What is the percent error of
each of the two angles?

15. Which process do you feel produces a more accurate value? Explain your reasoning.
EXPERIMENT Angle of an inclined plane
OBSERVATION Table
interval Position Time elapsed Displacement Time for the Velocity → Time Acc’N
number → t → interval → ∆v ∆t →
d ∆d ∆t v a
1

10

11
 PHYSICS: SPH 4U
To study accelerated motion.

Apparatus - ticker tape timer, tape, metre stick, mass, C clamp.

Method - Clamp the ticker tape timer so the tape can move vertically freely through
it. Attach the tape to the mass and release it in freefall through the timer. Do one tape for
each member of the group.

Mark the tape off in sections of 4 spaces (ie 0.1 s) and tabulate your results under the
headings:

d(cm) t(s) d(cm) t(s) v(cm/s) v(cmls) a(m/s2)

Plot a graph of: d vs t

v vs t

and d vs t2

On each graph determine a line of best fit: NB it may not be a straight line and may not
start through (0,0).

Results -

1. Explain why you were able to use the tape divided up in such a way
that it represented 0.1 s intervals.

2. Determine the slope of the v-t graph complete with units.

3. Determine the slope of the d-t2 graph complete with units.

4, Use answer to #3 to state a value for gravity.

5. Justify how you obtained answer #4 in terms of #3.

6. Should we know the value of the mass used and does it matter if we all use
different masses
 EXPERIMENT Gravity
OBSERVATION Table

interval Position Time Time Displacement Time for the Velocity → Time Acc’N
number → elapsed elapsed2 → interval → ∆v ∆t →
d t t2 ∆d ∆t v a
1

10

11