Experiment no.

3: Velocity and Acceleration

When a body is moving on a straight line, the said motion is known as a single-
dimensional motion or Linear motion. The body’s change in position with time is known
as velocity and when velocity changes with time it means it has acceleration. The body's
velocity can be determined by plotting the position along the y-axis and the time along
the x-axis, whatever is the slope of the graph gives the velocity. The acceleration of the
body can also be determined by plotting the velocity along the y-axis and the time along
the x-axis, whatever is the slope corresponds to the velocity-time graph is known as the
acceleration. Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity and change can be due to
change in the magnitude of the velocity and or due to a change in the direction. Still,
since this experiment is linear motion, if ever there is acceleration it is due to the change
in the magnitude of velocity. Another way to determine the velocity at any time t is by
getting the derivative of position say x with time.

dx
vx= (1)
dt

Acceleration at any time t is illustrated by this formula:

dV x
a= (2)
dt

Substituting,

dx
vx= (3)
dt

dx
d
dt (4)
a=
dt

then acceleration will become the second derivative of the position x with respect to time
t.

d x2
a= (5)
d t2

When a body moving in a linear motion has a velocity that varies with the same rate
throughout its motion, such motion is known as linear motion with constant acceleration,
The formulas for the said type of motion are shown below.

vf = vi + at (6)

1
s = vit+ at (7)
2
 vf2 = vi2 + 2as (8)

vf + vi
aave = (9)
2
Where:

vf = final velocity
Vi = initial velocity
s = displacement
a = acceleration
t = time elapsed

An example of linear motion with constant acceleration is freely falling body. In a

freely falling body, air resistance is negligible and the only factor affecting its motion
is the gravitational acceleration (g). The following are formulas used in freely falling
body:

vf = vi + gt (10)

1
s = vit+ >¿ (11)
2

vf2 = vi2 – 2gs (12)

OBJECTIVE:

1. The student will be able to investigate one-dimensional accelerated motion.

2. The student will be able to determine whether or not the acceleration of the
cart is constant.

MATERIALS:

Wooden Cart, Wooden Dynamic Track, Meterstick, Movable Pulley, Sets of Mass,
Triple beam balance, String, and Timer.

Wooden dynamic track

Wooden cart
Pulley

String

Mass hanger
Table
 Figure 3: Schematic diagram set-up of linear motion.

PROCEDURE:

● Attach the movable pulley at the end of the wooden dynamic track (See figure
below)

end of wooden
dynamic track

Movable
Pulley

● Weigh the wooden cart using triple beam balance. The mass of a wooden cart
is equal to m1.
● Tie a string on the wooden cart. Place it at the other end of the wooden
dynamic track. The other end of the string must be connected to the mass
hanger. The mass hanger is hung at the movable pulley. (See the figure below)

Wooden cart String

Mass hanger
● Using a meterstick and pencil marker, put 0-cm, 10-cm, 20-cm, 30-cm, 40-cm,
50-cm, 60-cm, 70-cm, 80-cm, and 90-cm mark on the wooden dynamic track
(See figure below).

● Once done, put 30 g on the mass hanger. Record the time it takes to move the
wooden cart from its initial position (0-cm) mark to the position before it
reaches the 10-cm mark.
● Repeat steps 1-5, this time record the time it takes before it reaches: 20- cm,
30-cm,ko 40-cm, 50-cm, 60-cm, 70-cm, 80-cm, and 90-cm marks.
● Repeat steps 1-6, this time use mass: 40 g and 50 g.
● Calculate the experimental velocity using this formula:
x −x
v experimental= f i
t f −t i
● Calculate the theoretical velocity using this formula. (g= 9.8 m/s2)

m2 g
v theoretical=
m1 +m2 f(
t
)
● Calculate the experimental acceleration using this formula:

v f −v i
a experimental=
t f −t i
● Calculate the theoretical acceleration using this formula. (g= 9.8 m/s2)

a theoretical=
( m2 g
m1 +m2 )
● Calculate the percentage error of velocity and acceleration.

Percentage Error for Velocity:

percentage error (%) = ( v theoretical )

v theoretical −v experimental
x 100 %

Percentage Error for Acceleration:

percentage error (%) = ( a theoretical )

atheoretical −a experimental
x 100 %

● Plot the distance (m) vs. time (s). Determine the slope of the plot. The slope is
equal to the average experimental velocity. (Use graphing paper or excel)
 ● Plot the velocity (m/s) vs. time (s). Determine the slope of the plot. The slope
is equal to the average experimental acceleration.

Note: Use video of your mobile phone, DSLR, or any video device to record
the exact time.

LAB REPORT

NAME SIGNATURE

COURSE TITLE: PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS LABORATORY

EXPERIMENT TITLE:
EXPERIMENT NO:
DATE SUBMITTED :
PROFESSOR:
GRADES/SCORES:
Data and Results:

Mass = 30 g

Table 3.1
Experimental Theoretical
D = xf- xi t = tf- ti(s) v (m/s) a (m/s2) v (m/s) a (m/s2) Percentage Error
(cm) (%)
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90

Mass = 40 g

Table 3.2
Experimental Theoretical
D (cm) t (s) v (m/s) a (m/s2) v (m/s) a (m/s2) Percentage Error
(%)
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
 90

Mass = 50 g

Table 3.3
Experimental Theoretical
D (cm) t (s) v (m/s) a (m/s2) v (m/s) a (m/s2) Percentage Error
(%)
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90

Computation: (ATTACHED ADDITIONAL SHEET OF PAPER)

Analysis:

Conclusion:
 INDIVIDUAL LABORATORY REPORT

Name: ____________________________________________Section:_________
Course: ___________________________________________ Score: _________

1. Is there a systematic difference between the experimental and theoretical values of

velocity and acceleration? If so, suggest possible factors that would account for this
difference.

2. What do you think are the factors that would affect the cart's deceleration by floor
slope?

3. Figure below is a graph that shows the motion of an object along a straight line
plotted against time. Describe the motion of the object