NPS 210– Physics for Engineers

Name: _____________________________ Date Performed: ___________________

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Group No.: _________________________ Instructor: ________________________

Experiment No. 2
MEASURING SPEED

Introduction:

When an object changes its position, it is said to be moving. Motion involves a

displacement occurring over a certain time interval. This means that the position of a moving
object changes with time.

One idea that is used to describe the motion of an object or body is speed ( v). Speed
refers to how fast the body moves. It is the rate of change of distance. It may be classified as
constant, average, or instantaneous (Quiambao, 2004).

A body is said to be moving at a constant speed when it covers the same distance for the
same time interval. In most cases, however, a constant speed cannot be maintained. In this case,
the motion can be described in terms of the average speed (Young, 2000). Hence, speed is
¿
actually the average speed ( v ):
¿
x
v=
t
¿
where v = the average speed
x = distance
t = time of travel

Sometimes, it is also important to identify the particular speed of a body at a given instant
of time. This gives what we call the instantaneous speed. The speedometer on the car’s
dashboard gives the instantaneous speed.

Two short activities are to be performed in this experiment. In the first activity, the
motion of an object, a small steel ball inside a glass tube filled with oil, is to be investigated
using the slow ball apparatus which consists of a tube that is attached to a supporting meter scale
inclined at some adjustable angle, q. (Glover, 2007).

The millisecond timer attached to the two photo-eye electronic detectors record the exact
time the ball within the tube moves between the two detectors. From this interval and the known
separation between the detectors, the average speed of the steel ball is calculated.

In the second activity, all the members of the group will be asked to perform a specific
task for a given distance. Since motion is most likely not uniform all throughout the completion
of the task, the motion can be described in terms of the average speed.

Objectives:
1. To determine how the position of the object changes with time.
2. To determine the average speed in doing a given task.

Materials:
Slow ball apparatus, millisecond timer, small magnet, 2 timepieces (stopwatches), meter
stick, chalk

Father Saturnino Urios University Butuan City

NPS 210– Physics for Engineers

Procedure:

A. The slow ball apparatus

1. Adjust the vertical support stand of the slow ball apparatus so that the angle is
approximately 30°.

2. Connect the upper photo-eye to the A input of the millisecond timer and the lower photo-
eye to the B input. Set the timer function switch to A Start – B Stop and the range
switch to 9.999 seconds. Before each release, the small steel ball should be placed at the
high end of the tube by gently dragging it with a small magnet.

3. Position the photo detectors on the first intervals indicated in Table 1. Measure and
record the time for the ball to move from position A to B in the table. Repeat the time
measurement three times and calculate the average of the three measurements. Compute
the average speed of the steel ball in this interval.

4. Do the same for the rest of the intervals indicated in Table 1 and also in Table 2.

B. Speed challenge

1. Find a spot in the field or hallway and measure a 10-m track. Use the chalk to mark the
beginning (0 m), middle (5 m), and the end (10 m) of the track.

2. Each team member will have to perform the following tasks for each distance:
a. hopping,
b. walking backwards,
c. walking at a regular rate, and
d. speed walking.

Assign two group members to act as timers at the 5-m and 10-m points of the track.
They are to record the time it takes to complete the task for the given distance.

3. Calculate the speed for each task and record all information on the data table.

Data and Results:

Table 1. Distances varies

Position of steel Distance Time spent Average Average
ball traveled (s) time speed
A B (cm) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 (s) ( cm/s )
10.0 60.0
15.0 55.0
20.0 50.0
25.0 45.0
30.0 40.0

Table 2. Constant intervals (distances)

Position of steel Distance Time spent Average Average
ball traveled (s) time speed
A B (cm) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 (s) ( cm/s )
10.0 20.0
20.0 30.0
30.0 40.0
40.0 50.0
50.0 60.0

Father Saturnino Urios University Butuan City

NPS 210– Physics for Engineers

Table 3. Speed challenge

Task Distance Time (s) Average Average
(m) time speed
Trial 1 Trial 2 (s) ( m/s)
Hopping 5
10
Walking backwards 5
10
Walking at regular rate 5
10
Speed walking 5
10
Computations:

Analysis and Interpretation:

Generalization:

Father Saturnino Urios University Butuan City

NPS 210– Physics for Engineers

Drawing / Sketches: (Draw and label the complete set for activity A and make sketches for activity B)

Application:
1. If the angle of inclination of the slow ball apparatus is changed, will there be a change in
the speed of the steel ball? Why?

2. Which task and distance resulted in the fastest speed? In the slowest speed?

3. Using your speed for the 5-m trial, determine the distance you can cover speed walking
for 25 minutes.

4. Using your speed for the 10-m trial, determine how long it will take you to hop a distance
of 30 m.

5. Using your speed for the 5-m trial, determine how far you can travel walking backwards
for 15 minutes.

Father Saturnino Urios University Butuan City