Velocity Lab

Introduction:

Does incline increase the velocity of an object? The lab was based on testing what affects

velocity and answering that question. Velocity is the speed in which an object changes in

direction or moves. During the lab, my group used different materials to measure how fast an

object could move depending on the incline. Due to prior knowledge, my group was able to

create an accurate hypothesis. Incline does in fact escalate the velocity of the object.

Hypothesis:

If you increase the incline of the ramp, then the velocity will increase.

Materials:

● Gray Ramp(90CM)

● Meter stick

● Small Marble

● Handheld Stopwatch

● Three same sized textbooks

Procedure:

1. Measure the length of your ramp in centimeters and record

2. Prop the ramp up on one textbook

3. Release the marble from the top of the ramp and use a stopwatch to time how long it takes the

marble to reach the end of the ramp. Record the data.

4. Repeat step 3 three times and record the data for each trial.

5. Add another textbook to increase the incline of the ramp.

6. Repeat steps #3 - 4 and record the data for all three trials

7. Add one more textbook to increase the incline of the ramp.

8. Repeat steps #3 – 4 and record the data for all three trials.

9. Calculate the velocity of the marble for all nine trials, in cm/s.

10. Calculate the average velocity for each of the three ramps.

Data Tables:

Low Incline Distance (cm) Time(s) Avg. Velocity (cm/s)

Trial 1 90 CM 1.97 cm/s 45.68 cm/s

Trial 2 90 CM 2.15 cm/s 41.86 cm/s

Trial 3 90 CM 1.53 cm/s 58.82 cm/s

Overall avg. X X 48.78 cm/s

Medium Incline Distance (cm) Time(s) Avg. Velocity (cm/s)

Trial 1 90 CM 1.26 cm/s 71.42 cm/s

Trial 2 90 CM 1.51 cm/s 59.60 cm/s

Trial 3 90 CM 1.40 cm/s 64.28 cm/s

Overall avg. X X 65.1 cm/s

High Incline Distance (cm) Time(s) Avg. Velocity (cm/s)

Trial 1 90 CM 1.27 cm/s 70.86 cm/s

Trial 2 90 CM 1.21 cm/s 74.38 cm/s

Trial 3 90 CM 1.22 cm/s 73.77 cm/s

Overall avg. X X 73.0 cm/s

Graph:
Calculations:

Low Incline:

Trial 1: 90/1.97 = 45.68

Trial 2: 90/2.15 = 41.86

Trial 3: 90/1.53 = 58.62

Avg.: 45.68+41.86+58.62/ 3 = 48.78

Medium Incline:

Trial 1: 90/1.26 =71.42

Trial 2: 90/1.51 =59.60

Trial 3: 90/1.40 =64.28

Avg: 71.42+59.60+64.28/3=65.1 cm/s

High Incline:

Trial 1: 90/1.27=70.86
Trial 2: 90/1.21=74.38

Trial 3: 90/1.22=73.77

Avg: 70.86+74.38+73.77/3=73.0 cm/s

Conclusion:

In this laboratory, the amount of textbooks used were the independent variable. The textbooks

created the incline, making the dependent variable the amount of time it took for the marble to go

down the ramp. The dependent variable(the speed of the marble) went down the ramp faster each

time the incline increased! Our hypothesis seems to be supported. The velocity did grow as the

incline did too. As you look at the data table averages, each average is different. For instance, the

low incline avg was 48.78 and the high incline was 73.0. The difference between those two

numbers are pretty significant. The high incline has a higher velocity because it was going faster.

This lab was pretty straightforward, although we did run into a few minimal issues. One being, at

times we had to restart the stopwatch because something would interfere with the marble rolling

down the ramp. There aren’t many things that I’d change for this lab, but I do wonder if the sizes

of the marbles affect velocity as well. Also, does the material of the marble affect the speed? Our

group enjoyed this lab!

Bibliography:

https://www.thoughtco.com/velocity-definition-in-physics-2699021