EXPERIMENT ____

ACCELERATED MOTION

I. Objective

1. To measure and compute the acceleration of a ball rolling down an inclined plane
2. To observe how gravity influence the acceleration of a descending body
3. To describe the motion of an accelerating body

II. Theoretical Background

A body is said to be accelerated when its velocity increases. Like a ball that is freely moving
down an inclined plane due to the influence of gravity. Here, the motion of the ball is divided into two
components; a horizontal forward motion and vertical downward motion. Since the gravity is pulling the
ball downwards, the ball is accelerating downward proportional to the steepness of the plane.
where: a/g = acceleration
a = Δv or = vf - vo t = time
Δt Δt vf = final velocity
vo = initial velocity
dy = vot – d = displacement
1 2 whereas: dy = height / vertical origin
gt
2 dx = range/ horizontal run
III. Materials vf2 = vo2 – 2gsy

meterstick digital timer iron stand w/ ring tape markers

Protractor wooden plank carbon paper bond paper solid metal ball

IV. Guide Tasks

1. Assemble the inclined plane setup and measure its initial data.
2. Find its horizontal velocity and compute its rate of decent (acceleration).
3. Compare the theoretical and experimental data whereas theoretical value of acceleration is:
ax = gcosӨ
4. Observe and find the effect of angle of inclination to the rate of motion of accelerated bodies.

5. Expound the same setup for trajectory experiment whereas the initial horizontal velocity is
constant.
6. Make a pre-tabulation of horizontal components of the specimen.
7. Find the trajectory motion (case 1) of accelerated bodies.
SETUP 01

Name BARBOSA, Chloei Cassandra L.__________ C/Y/S 12-C______ Grade __________

Instructor Sir Aldren Santos______________ Group ____4_____ Date October 9, 2020

V. Data and Results

Inclined Plane Acceleration

A. Angle of inclination: 10 o
time (seconds) distance (metres) velocity (m/s) accel (m/s2) %
Trials
y x y x initial final (x) Actual Theo’l diff’çe
1 1.44s 6.04s 0.08m 0.6m 0.20m/s 0 0.14 m/s2 9.65 m/s2 185.74 %
2 1.11s 3.14s 0.08m 1.66m 1.06m/s 0 0.95 m/s 2
9.65 m/s2 169.92 %
3 1.12s 5.13s 0.08m 1.91m 0.74m/s 0 0.66 m/s2 9.65 m/s2 175.59 %
Ave 1.22s 4.77s 0.08m 1.39m 0.67 m/s 0 0.58 m/s 2
9.65 m/s 2
177.08 %

B. Angle of inclination: 20 o
time (seconds) distance (metres) velocity (m/s) accel (m/s2) %
Trials
y x y x initial final (x) Actual Theo’l diff’çe
1 0.85s 7.23s 0.43m 2.85m 0.79m/s 0 0.93 m/s2 9.21 m/s2 163.31 %
2 0.79s 5.36s 0.43m 2.21m 0.82m/s 0 1.04 m/s 2
9.21 m/s2 159.41 %
3 0.59s 7.01s 0.43m 2.34m 0.67m/s 0 1.14 m/s2 9.21 m/s2 156.00 %
Ave 0.74s 6.53s 0.43m 2.47m 0.76m/s 0 1.04 m/s2 9.21 m/s2 159.57 %

distance time (seconds) Horizontal velocity (m/s) Ave Remarks

angle
(metres) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
The time it took for the
o ball to roll down the
10 1.39m 6.04s 3.14s 5.13s 0.23m/s 0.44m/s 0.27m/s 0.31m/s
plank was not constant in
each trial.
The velocity of the ball
increased as the
15 o 2.69m 4.64s 6.46s 5.79s 0.58m/s 0.42m/s 0.46m/s 0.49m/s
inclination of the plank
increased as well.
The change in the time it
took for the ball to roll
20 o 2.47m 7.23s 5.36s 7.01s 0.31m/s 0.46m/s 0.35m/s 0.37m/s
down the plank became
noticeable.
As the velocity increases,
25 o 4.55m 4.99s 8.20s 6.22s 0.91m/s 0.55m/s 0.73m/s 0.73m/s the distance travelled by
the ball also increased.
The horizontal velocity
30 o 4.73m 6.21s 6.12s 6.49s 0.76m/s 0.77m/s 0.73m/s 0.75m/s only had a very small
difference in each trial.
VI. Guide Questions

1. Define acceleration and its effect/s in the rate of motion of a body?

Acceleration is a vector quantity that is defined as the rate at which an object changes its velocity.
The rolling ball in an inclined plane is uniformly accelerated resulting to having a greater distance
of travel in each successive time interval. The distance travelled is directly proportional to the
square of the time.

2. How does the angle of the inclination influence the acceleration of the moving body?
The component parallel to the inclination increases and the component of force perpendicular to
the inclination decreases. This is because the parallel component of the weight vector that causes
the acceleration. Thus, acceleration is greater at greater angles of inclination.
3. How does gravity influence the acceleration of a body moving along the inclined plane?
Since the moving subject is in an inclined plane, the perpendicular component of the force of
gravity is directed to the opposite of the normal force. The object will now subsequently accelerate
down the inclined plane due to the presence of an unbalanced force.

4. Does the rolling body have a constant velocity? Verify your answer.
The rolling body will have a constant velocity because it is uniformly increasing its speed when it
travels down the ramp. The process of uniform acceleration was verified by Galileo on his
experiment. A rolling ball increased in velocity at a constant rate once the initial force is applied to
the object and it will continue to roll until such time that some other force acts against it.

5. When will an accelerating body attain a constant velocity? Support your answer with an example.
An accelerating body will attain a constant velocity when the body is moving at a constant speed
with a constant direction. One example is when a car is moving at 75kph North. That is when an
object will reach a constant velocity because it has a constant speed and direction.

6. Is it possible for a body to accelerate if it is moving at constant velocity? Verify your answer.
A body moving in constant velocity can accelerate because of external forces. Constant velocity is
achieved when a body moves in a constant speed and constant direction. But if an external force is
acted upon the body, it can cause the body to accelerate.