Lab Report

PHY-101
GROUP-3B

5th March 2020

MUHAMMAD AHMED 285632

MUHAMMAD ABDOOLLAH 292073
SHEROZEKHAN 284093
AATIR KHAN 321838
ARSHANULLAH TAWHIDI 321788

1
Abstract:
The “PAScar” is a specially designed car which moves on a certain track with minimal
friction. A spring based propeller system is built into the car to give it equal amounts of
force during a push. The PAScar system is usually used to study one dimensional
accelerated under the action of floor slope and rolling friction.

In the first experiment, the acceleration of the object under action of initial velocity is
inspected. The average velocity and initial velocity of PAScar is calculated and finally its
acceleration.

In the 2nd experiment, the co-efficient of rolling friction is calculated using PAScar.
When the car is moved, after covering some distance, it comes to rest. This happens
because of the presence of rolling friction and slope of floor. As no surface is perfectly
leveled, thus a slope of order of θ << 50. The experiments for upward and downward
slope to calculate average floor angle and the coefficient of rolling friction µr.

Experiment 1
Kinematics (Average vs. Instantaneous Velocities)

Apparatus:
1)PAScar
2)Metric Tape
3)Stopwatch
THEORY

In the first experiment, the constant acceleration of the PAScar is proved by equating
the experimental and theoretical values of time taken “t” to cover a distance “d”. The
car is released gently and slid over the surface with a gradual slope. The car is then put
2
to a halt when it is stopped by a wall. The distance D covered and the total elapsed
time T from the point of launching to the point of stopping is measured and recorded.
The average velocity is given by:

D
v avg=
T
The initial instantaneous velocity at the liftoff with constant accelerated is given by:
0+ v0 v 0
v avg= =
2 2

v0 D 2D
= =v =
2 T 0 T

And the constant acceleration is given by:

v 0−v 0 −2 D
a= = = 2
T T T

If ‘ v 0’ and ‘𝑎’ are known then the time t1 for a distance d can be calculated using
quadratic equation of variable t 1.

1
d=v 0 t 1 + a(t 1 )2
2

With the help of these formulas, we are able to calculate theoretical time for an
intermediate distance and compare it with the experimental value. And the constancy
of acceleration is also found.

Then the error is is calculated using the following formula.

t exp −t theo
× 100
t theo

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Procedure:
(1) Once you have roughly determined the range of the cart, clearly mark a distance d
that is about half way out from the start. Measure this distance and record it.
(2) Using a stopwatch with a lap timer and metric tape, it is possible to determine t1, T
and D for each launch. Practice this step a few times before you start recording data.
(3) Launch the car and record the data described in the previous step for 3 trials.
Release the car and record the time it takes to slide all to way to a stop when it collides
with the wall. Record the trials in separate distances and measure the distance
travelled.
(4) Using the equations described in the theory section and the data recorded in the
table, do the calculations needed.
Data Analysis:
Trials Distance Time Vo(cm/s) a(cm/s2) X(cm) t(exp) t(theo) Error(%)
(cm) (sec)
1 82.8 6.66 24.86 -3.73 45 2.735 2.160 26.6
2 75.4 5.98 25.22 -4.27 45 2.125 2.190 3.0
3 85.7 8.04 21.32 -2.65 45 2.480 2.500 0.8

Results and Conclusion:

We calculated theoretical and experimental values of time and motion using PAScar
and found the % diff between them. Acceleration was also determined.

Experiment 2
Determination of the Coefficient of Friction

Apparatus:
1)PAScar
2)Metric Tape
3)Stopwatch

4
 THEORY
In this experiment, we launch the car several times in a single direction and then we
launch it several time along the same course but in the opposite direction.

The acceleration of the car in the downslope direction is given by:

𝑎 = 𝑔 𝑠in 𝜃 − 𝜇g

While in the upslope direction, the acceleration is given by:

𝑎 = −𝑔 𝑠in 𝜃 − 𝜇g

Acceleration is calculated by the formula:

−2 D
a=
T2
By calculating the acceleration for up and down slopes, two equations are obtained. By
solving them simultaneously, the values of angle (𝜃) and coefficient of friction (𝜇) can
be found
a1 + a2
μr =
2g

θ=sin−1 ¿ ¿

Procedure:
1) Place a folded piece of paper on one side of the track to create a gradual slope
2) Place the car in its starting position and then launch it. To cock the spring
plunger, push the plunger in, and then push the plunger slightly upward to allow
one of the notches on the plunger bar to “catch” on the edge of the small metal
bar at the top of the hole. Using a stopwatch and metric tape, determine the
range d and the total time spent rolling t. Record the results.
3) Repeat step 1 three times for each direction and record the results.
4) Using appropriate equation, compute the accelerations corresponding to the
data and an average acceleration for each of the two directions.
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 5) Using the results of step 4, determine µr and θ by algebraically solving for the
two unknowns.
Data Analysis:
Starting point = Xo = 22.7 cm

Downslope:
Distance(cm) Time(s) A(downwards)
72.7 6.42 3.52
65.5 5.43 4.44
74.0 5.80 4.40
Average downwards acceleration = 4.12 cm/sec2

Upslope:
Distance(cm) Time(s) A(downwards)
49.2 3.73 -7.07
51.9 3.65 -7.79
44.5 3.15 -8.99
Average upwards acceleration = 7.95 cm/sec2
Results:
a1 + a2
µ= =¿ 59.2
2g
θ = 0.196 degrees

We calculated the coefficient of friction and the angle formed with the surface using a1
and a2.

The results are as shown above