Elias, Delaun, Caleb, Aj

Physics Motion Lab- Car And Inclined Plane Analysis(Lab 3)

Hypothesis:

If we release the car with 0 force at the top of the inclined plane, then the car will
accelerate down the ramp at a constant acceleration, then de-accelerate at a constant
deceleration over the table, eventually reaching 0 cm/s. We believe the car will travel a
total of 200cm before stopping.
Process:
● Set up an inclined plane with a flat surface following it. We used the black ramp
with a piece of cardboard attached to it (at the same angle) leading to our flat
table. The inclined plane was approximately 5 degrees.
● Set up 10 cm marks across the plane and table and have a tape measurer ready
for precise distance measurements.
● Prepare a stopwatch (phone1) and a slow motion camera (phone2) for finding
precise timing.
● Upon release of the car, start the stopwatch and slow motion video. Stop the
stopwatch and video once the car comes to a complete stop.
● Observe and record data; the times (t1 and t2) and distances (d1,and d2)
● Repeat about 3 times and find the averages (add data and divide by number of
tests) for increased precision.
● Use the listed equations in the image above to find the velocities and
accelerations. ( We only used the first 2)

Time and Distance- Finding the averages

Type Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Average

D1 85cm 85cm 85cm 85cm

(Inclined
Plane
Distance)

T1 1.62s 1.53s 1.56s 1.57s

(Time in
Motion
Over
Inclined
Plane)

D2 48cm 50cm 58cm 52cm

(Table
Distance)

T2 1.65s 1.62s 1.68s 1.65s

(Time in
Motion
Over Table)
The distance traveled before stopping after the ramp (d2) seemed to vary a lot. We
released the car with 0 force in the same position every time. The distance of the plane
(d1) was bound to stay the same.

Calculated and final data:

Section: Inclined Plane (Acceleration)

V1- D1- T1- V2- A1-
At rest Distance Time in Average Acceleration of
(before traveled motion over Velocity of car the car over the
release) over inclined over the plane Inclined Plane
Inclined plane (v2-v1)/1.57
plane

0cm/s 85cm 1.57s 54.1cm/s 34.5cm/s^2

Section: Table (Deacceleration)
D2- T2- V3- A2-
Distance Time in Once End of Plane to
traveled motion stopped complete stop
over over (v3-v2)/1.65
table table

52cm 1.65s 0cm/s -32.8cm/s^2

Section: Totals
Dt- Tt- Vt- At
Total Time in Velocity 2-Acceleration
distance motion over from start from start to
traveled plane and of plane to stop
before table complete (v3-v1)/3.22
stop combined stop
(average)

137cm 3.22s 42.5cm/s 0cm/s^2

l
l
v
​
Conclusions:

Since the car went from rest to stopped, the final acceleration ended up being 0.
V2 was a crucial point of data. It allowed us to calculate the acceleration over the inclined
plane and deceleration over the table.
The car was over both surfaces for a surprisingly similar amount of time.
It sped up just a tad bit faster compared to the time that it took to slow down. The
accelerations were ​34.5cm/s^2​ over the ramp and ​-32.8cm/s^2​ over the table