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Aela Kirish

Mr. Yack

AP Physics

September 2, 2020

Buggy Lab Report

Testable Question:

● Determine if the Buggy’s change in position is constant as time goes on

Materials:

● Buggy Car(s)

○ Either two, one slow and one fast

○ Or one buggy that goes forwards and backwards

● Meter stick

● Paper or tape

○ To record instantaneous measurements on.

● Metronome

○ To keep a constant beat.

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Set-Up:

● This is how we set up our testing area.

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Variables:

● Control

○ Buggy Car(s)

■ Same fast car used and same slow car used throughout the entire

experiment respectively.

● Independent

○ Number of seconds passed.

■ No matter the car or the distance, the number of seconds passed in each

trial will still be the same.

● 1 sec, 2 sec, 3 sec, and 4 sec respectively.

● Dependent

○ Distance covered in centimeters

■ The distance depends on the type of car (fast or slow) and the amount of

time passed.

■ The larger the amount of time passed, the larger the distance will be and

vice versa.

Procedure:

1. Arrange the testing area as shown in the “Set-Up” section.

a. Set metronome to 60 BPM.

2. Let the car run for x amount of time (depending on the trial)

a. Mark where the back wheel ended when the set amount of time has passed.

3. Repeat for time intervals of 1s, 2s, 3s, and 4s with at least 5 trials for each.
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a. Repeat again with the same intervals with the second car, or switch directions,

and repeat step 2.

Data Tables:

Fast Car #5

Seconds Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5

1 46.5 39.7 44.3 46.4 40.1

2 81.5 88.3 91 91.5 84.3

3 133.8 136.6 134.3 136.6 136.6

4 189.6 190 191.4 191.9 192.1

Slow Car #3

Seconds Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5

1 16.5 18.5 15.5 16.5 18.5

2 41.5 40 38 35.5 35

3 51 52.3 51.8 52.1 52

4 69 71 72 70 71
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Data Analysis:

Looking over the data, of just the 5th trial for the faster car, it was concluded that for

every 1 second that passed, the buggy traveled about 50.7 centimeters. This was determined by

taking the average of the differences between 1&2 seconds, 2&3 seconds, and 3&4 seconds. For

the 5th trial of the slower car, for every 1 second that passed, the buggy traveled about 17.5

centimeters. This distance was determined the same way as the faster car. The results from only

the 5th trial were used for a couple reasons. These include outliers in the collected data that

skewed our results. As well as, as we did the trials, the testing process went smoother and our

recording on the tape became more accurate. Finally, the 5ht trial results produced the most

guaranteed accuracy to represent our trials the best.

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Conclusion:

Although we were generally able to determine the velocity of the buggy, there are still

errors that occurred throughout the experiment. The major random error that occurred during the

experiment came from the slower buggy. At random points throughout the experiment, the

battery would either die or not produce a steady flow of electricity. This caused the car to

periodically slow down or even stop. This might have been happening due to the fact the buggy

was designed to run on two batteries, and there was only one present. Systematic errors came

mainly in the form of experimental errors. Our line of tape being used to record the instantaneous

measurements was not straight. As well as, our buggy did not travel in a straight line during each

trial. As far as measuring goes, human error played a significant factor in that one. Each

measurement was recorded by a small amount of guessing. There is a chance of delay with hand

and eye coordination, trying to mark the line while also watching the car. Similarly, because the

line marking was a fast paced activity, the lines could easily be crooked and not 100% accurate.

Systematic errors also include the fact that the buggy was not dropped by the same person each

time, the same goes for the measurements being recorded. Because they were each done by a

different person for some of the trials, this could have changed the results, albeit not drastically.

All in all, the possible errors explored did not have a drastic effect on the end results as there

were no major outliers in the 5th trial. Proving that once a few trials were completed and a

process hashed out, our buggy did indeed travel at a constant velocity.
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