The aim of the experiment is to find the acceleration and velocity of an object.
Answers
Answer:
Aim: To analyse the effects on the motion of a dynamic trolley when different surfaces are introduced with different levels of friction and calculate the speed, acceleration, and velocity.
Hypothesis: If a dynamic trolley is released down a ramp with a towel, plastic bag, and velvet as the surface, then the acceleration of the trolley with a towel as the surface will be slower than that of the others. This is because the towel will have a high coefficient friction with the dynamic trolley causing the trolley to have a slower acceleration and a slower final velocity than that of the other surfaces.
Materials:
Dynamic trolley
Ticker timer
Ticker timer tape
Ramp
Textbooks (to give the ramp a slope/gradient)
Towel
Velvet
Plastic bag
Ruler
Graph paper
Method:
Set the ramp up (with two textbooks to give it its angle) leading into open space, ensure the material you are testing is covering the ramp and has no large bumps or creases.
Set ticker timer behind the ramp where the ticker timer tape can pass freely.
Feed ticker timer tape through the ticker timer and attach to the dynamic trolley.
Set someone at the end of the ramp to catch the trolley once it is released down the ramp.
Release the dynamic trolley down the ramp ensuring it is not pushed.
Replace the disk and change the material and repeat steps 3-5.
Pack the equipment up ensuring it is all placed away safely and in the correct location.
Record the results using the ticker timer tape ensuring the dots are measured correctly.
Risk Assessment:
Table 1: Assessment of the Possible Risks Associated with this Experiment
Hazard
Risk
Preventative Action
Broken equipment
The dynamic trolley could get stepped on/dropped etc.
Always warn others when about to send the trolley down the ramp and make sure the area is clear
Injury (eye)
The long rod on the trolley get poked into someone’s eye
Always carry the dynamic trolley pointing down and don’t wave it around the air near people
Results:
Table 1: Towel
Section
Total Time (s)
Length of Section (mm)
Time Interval of each section (s)
Average Speed of section (mm/s)
1 (dots 0-5)
0.1
8.5
0.1
85
2 (dots 5-10)
0.2
11.2
0.1
112
3 (dots 10-15)
0.3
14.8
0.1
148
4 (dots 15-20)
0.4
17.3
0.1
173
5 (dots 20-25)
0.5
20.0
0.1
200
6 (dots 25-30)
0.6
22.4
0.1
224
7 (dots 30-35)
0.7
23.2
0.1
232
8 (dots 35-40)
0.8
22.8
0.1
225
9 (dots 40-45)
0.9
23.5
0.1
235
10 (dots 45-50)
1.0
24.7
0.1
247
Average acceleration of trolley a=247–850.9
a=180mm/s2
Table 2: Velvet
Section
Total Time (s)
Length of Section (mm)
Time Interval of each section (s)
Average Speed of section (mm/s)
1 (dots 0-5)
0.1
7.1
0.1
71
2 (dots 5-10)
0.2
10.5
0.1
105
3 (dots 10-15)
0.3
12.5
0.1
125
4 (dots 15-20)
0.4
16.3
0.1
163
5 (dots 20-25)
0.5
20.1
0.1
201
6 (dots 25-30)
0.6
22.9
0.1
229
7 (dots 30-35)
0.7
25.8
0.1
258
8 (dots 35-40)
0.8
26.5
0.1
265
9 (dots 40-45)
0.9
30.0
0.1
300
10 (dots 45-50)
1.0
36.0
0.1
360
Average acceleration of trolley a=360–710.9
a=329mm/s2
Table 3: Plastic bag
Section
Total Time (s)
Length of Section (mm)
Time Interval of each section (s)
Average Speed of section (mm/s)
1 (dots 0-5)
0.1
29.0
0.1
290
2 (dots 5-10)
0.2
38.0
0.1
380
3 (dots 10-15)
0.3
45.5
0.1
455
4 (dots 15-20)
0.4
49.0
0.1
490
5 (dots 20-25)
0.5
62.0
0.1
620
6 (dots 25-30)
0.6
63.1
0.1
631
7 (dots 30-35)
0.7
73.0
0.1
730
8 (dots 35-40)
0.8
78.1
0.1
781
9 (dots 40-45)
0.9
84.1
0.1
841
10 (dots 45-50)
1.0
95.1
0.1
951
Average acceleration of trolley a=951–2900.9
a=734mm/s2
Graph:
Speed (mm/s2
)
Discussion: The aim of this report was to prove that different surfaces will make different impacts on the motion of the dynamic trolley when released down a ramp. The data above clearly indicate that the surface the dynamic trolley affected the acceleration quite dramatically, the aim of the report was achieved.