Ticker Timer Activity
Ticker Timer Activity
Aim
These simple experiments will help you to learn
carbon
how to use the ticker timer to measure distance, paper
ticker tape
speed and acceleration. disc
magnet
Observations:
Length of tape = cm
Time to go through timer = 0.1 s
Speed of tape = cm/s
Repeat the experiment but this time pull the tape through the timer
more quickly.
The distance that the tape has traveled in the time that you pulled it through the ticker timer
is simply the distance between the first and last dots on the tape.
A sample set of ticker tape length is shown in the diagram. How do these pieces of tape
compare with your ticker tape?
Remember that you must measure FIVE SPACES and NOT 5 DOTS.
Experiment 2
WHAT TO DO:
Set up the apparatus as shown in the diagram with the tape fixed to the trolley. Switch on the
ticker timer and let the trolley run down the slope.
timer
trolle
y
runway
mass
Cut your tape into 5 SPACE lengths and stick it in your books just like you did for experiment
one. This time make sure that you start with the shortest first and be careful to keep the
pieces in order.
Stick in eleven of these 5 SPACE pieces and work out the speed of the first and eleventh
piece.
Length of piece 1 = cm
Length of piece 11 = cm
Speed of piece 1 = cm/s
Speed of piece 11 = cm/s
Time between piece 1 and piece 11 = 1s
Acceleration of the trolley down the ramp = cm/s2
Your results for experiment 2 should look something like hose shown
in this diagram.
If you cant get 11 pieces the try and get six. This will mean a time
difference of 0.6-0.1 = 0.5s.
2. The sample pieces of ticker tape shown in the diagram with experiment one are not all
quite the same length. What does this tell you about the speed with which the ticker tape was
pulled through the time?
3. How could you tell that the trolley in experiment two was accelerating steadily down the
ramp?
4. If you had used five dot lengths and not five space lengths what time interval would that
be?
5. The sections of ticker tape shown have been copied full size,. If the timer gave 50 space
per sec ond what is the:
Diagram 1
Diagram 2
6. The dots on the tape in diagram 1 are not all the same distance apart. What does that tell
you about that piece of tape?