3.

Results and Discussions

The experiment conducted showed differences as it was placed on a various set-ups. The
variety in locations or set-ups determines the factors that may affect the results of the experiment.
The smoothness of the rigid plank and marbles used are ensured because the friction can cause
the changes in time that the marble rolls on it. The design of the experiment is only limited to one
data to focused on and for the experimenters to observe.

Average Acceleration
Displacement Displacement Percentage
Equal time
from the for each
Speed per (cm/s2) Difference
intervals (s) interval
origin (cm) interval (cm) (%)
(cm/s) Expt’l Average

0 - 1.47 21 21 14.29 19.44 15.62 -24.46

1.47 - 2.94 67 46 31.29 15.50 15.62 0.77
2.94 - 4.41 116 49 33.33 11.93 15.62 23.62

Table 1. The summary of results recorded for each time interval in seconds

Each values presented in the table given above gives a particular use in observing and
analyzing the kinetic motion of the marble as it rolls down on an inclined plane. The plank’s
length measures 116 centimeters and has a total time of 4.41 seconds for the marble to reach the
end. The second column shows the position of the marble on its corresponding time. The interval
in position was shown in the third column having its velocity with respect to their common time
interval. For the acceleration of the experiment, the equation 2.4 was used to calculate it with its
corresponding time. The average acceleration is based on the experimental acceleration and used
as a guide in determining the percentage difference between them.

Using the data gathered for the displacement and time the experimenters are able to form a
graph using Excel for a better graphical representation. This will help them to observe the
behaviour of the marble and the relationship between the time and position.
 Figure 1. Position – Time graph

The x-axis represents the time it takes for the marble to reach a certain position; it is
recorded during the experimentation. The y-axis represents the position of the marble in
centimeter.

It can be observed that the direction of the graph is going upward to the right, which
means that the relationship between the time and position is directly proportional to each other.
As the marble moving farther from its origin, the shorter time it will need. As shown in Table 1,
the speed of the marble increases in every time interval that makes the marble to roll faster in the
plank. As the plank is tilted, the marble will continue to fall and increase its speed due to its
unbalanced force.

Using the equation for velocity the reporters are able to compute for the velocity of the
marble in each time interval and convert it to a graphical presentation as shown below.
 Figure 2. Velocity – Time graph

The x-axis represents the recorded time in second, while the y-axis represents the
computed velocity in the experiment. Just like in the Position – Time graph, the direction of the
graph above is going up to the right, which also suggests that the velocity and time are directly
proportional to each other. The longer the time, the higher the velocity the marble will have.

The increase in the velocity of the marble is the result of the increase also in the
acceleration. The marble that place in the tilted plank will undoubtedly slide down and the more
tilted the plank is, the faster the rate at which marble will slide down. The acceleration happens
because of the unbalance force in the marble; the force of the marble is in the downward direction
differs from the normal force that is perpendicular to the surface. As the acceleration defined as
the change in velocity, the unbalance force that causes an acceleration will increase the velocity
of the marble. Also, the friction between the marble and the plank will affect the speed of the
marble, as the friction opposes the motion of an object that will result in the object to slow down.
But for this experiment, friction does not have a significant effect on our speed because the
marble only rolls in the surface and rolling is the weakest kind of friction because it needed less
effort for the object to move and easily change its speed.

The graph in figure 1 and 2 suggest that the time is directly affected by the position and
the velocity of the marble. Different factors influence all the data we gathered in the experiment it
includes the texture of the plank, the friction, the mass of the marble and its unbalanced force.