Abstract

During this lab session we will perform four experiments; the first one is to determine the
reaction time using the equation t=√ (2 s /a). The second is to investigate direction in one
motion using ball bearing and inclined channel. The third one is to predict and observe
motion of two balls. Fourth is to record the 2D motion of the ball on the ramp.
1 1
v=v 0 +¿a t ¿ ,
2 x−x 0= ( v 0 +v ) t , x−x 0=v 0 t + a t 2 , v 2=v 20 +2 a( x−x 0 )
2 2

Method
Experiment 1: determining the reaction time.
 Take a 30cm ruler and hold it at a height.
 Release the ruler so that your partner could catch it.
 Measure how far the ruler has fallen.
 Repeat the procedure five times and then take the average of it.
 Calculate the reaction time using the equation t=√ (2 s /a) .
Experiment 2: investigate direction in one motion using ball bearing and inclined channel
 Take a bracket and use it to incline the metal channel to greatest amount.
 Lean the 1-meter ruler parallel to the channel.
 Keeping in mind that the ruler should not touch the ball bearing.
 Then use the stopwatch to measure the position and time of the bearing during its
motion.
 Then calculate the square of this corrected time and record your values.
 Plot two graphs first with observed position and time then second one with time
squared.
 Draw the best fit lines and calculate the gradient to find velocity and acceleration.

Experiment 3: predict and observe motion of two balls bearings

Experiment 4: record the 2D motion of the ball

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Results
Experiment 1:
Your drop 1 2 18 1 2 d ̅ =21.4 ± t´R =0.209 ms
distance (cm) 9 4 8 8 5cm

19+24+18+18+ 28
d̅ = =21.4 cm
5
t´R =√ (2 s /a) = √ ¿ = 0.209

Experiment 2:
time x−x 0 (m) Time -t´R if use Time 2 x−x 0 (m)
stopwatch (theory)

0 0.00 0 0 0
0.58 0.10 0.37 0.138 0.676
0.98 0.20 0.77 0.594 2.91
1.2 0.30 0.99 0.982 4.81
1.29 0.40 1.08 1.17 5.73
1.49 0.50 1.28 1.64 8.04
1.67 0.60 1.46 2.13 10.4
1.8 0.70 1.59 2.53 12.4
1.94 0.80 1.73 2.99 14.7
2.11 0.90 1.90 3.61 17.7
2.14 1.00 1.93 3.72 18.2

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 Graph 1
20

18

16

14

12
𝒙−𝒙𝟎 (𝒎)

10

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
time squared (𝑠^2)

graph 2

From graph 1 From graph 2

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 y 2− y 1 1−0.9
V (m/s) = = = 3.33 a (m/ s2 ¿ = 2 × m = 7.11
x 2−x 1 2.14−2.11

y 2− y 1 1−0
v́ (m/s) = = = 0.467 v = at =7.11 × 1.93 = 13.7
x 2−x 1 2.14−0

Q) suggest why the calculated final velocities are different from the two graphs; is one
“better” than the other?
Ans) The values are different because both graphs are different as the left one is the
instantaneous velocity graph the values would not be that accurate as it has different slope on
every point as compared to the right side graph which is a straight line and also it is a velocity
time graph whose slope is acceleration.
1 2
Q) Does the change in potential energy equal the change in kinetic energy ( mgh= m v )?
2
Ans) If we look in all physical processes taking place yes, the change in potential energy is
equal to the change in kinetic energy but the change in potential energy is different from
change in kinetic energy for my experiment as explained:
1
mgh= m v 2
2
1
gh= v 2
2

1
9.8 × 1 = ×0.467 2
2
9.8 = 0.1.

Experiment 3:

Experiment 4:
x−x 0 = 1.3 m
v 0 x = 1.53 m/s

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 v x = 1.53 m/s
ax = 0 m/ s2
y− y 0= 4.6 m
v0 y = 0 m/s
v y = 2.56 m/s
a y = 9.8 m/ s2
θ = 45 deg
v 0 = 1.53 m/s
v = 2.98 m/s
t free fall = 0.26 s

Conclusion:
In conclusion in experiment 1 we found the reaction time which was 0.209 ms. In experiment
2 we extracted the final and average velocity from the graphs also found the acceleration.in
experiment 3 we predicted the graphs of 2 ball bearing which had been suspended from
different heights. Finally in the last experiment we found the free fall time for the ball which
had been on the ramp and the time was 0.26 s. The values and experiment could be improves
if we perform it more than 1 and then take the average of the values. Also avoid paralex error.