SCI113 Experiment 2: Average Speed

Title: Experiment 2: Average Speed

This is a "virtual" experiment, in which the data that you will use is provided for you.

For this experiment, you will study motion, specifically average speed, using two launch methods. You will need to write up the experiment in the standard lab report format (name, date, title, purpose, equipment/procedure, data, analysis/conclusion). The lab report template is posted on eLearning (Experiment section) for reference.

Lab equipment/materials:

Meter sticks (6)

Car

Ramp Assembly (Stand, Clamps, Track)

Stop watches (or phone stop watch utility)

Procedure:

1. There are two experiment setups for this experiment:
   1. Ramp Launch: Ramp assembly (Stand, Clamps, Track) with car, 6 meter sticks, two stop watches (or phone stop watches).
   2. Manual Launch: Car, 6 meter sticks, two stop watches (or phone stop watches).

Both experiment setups will use the same length of 6 meter sticks (lined up end-to-end).

Reference Point A is at the front edge of the first meter stick.

Reference Point B is in the middle of the meter stick line-up, at 3 meters.

Reference Point C is at the end of the last of the 6 meter sticks, at 6 meters.

-------------A_to_C Time------------

A_to_B Time

Car_start A------+-------+------B-----+--------+-------C

0.00m 3.00m 6.00m

1. For the two experiment setups, you "virtually" roll a car from point A (0.00m), to point C (6.00 meters).

• One virtual team member will roll the car (either releasing the car on the inclined ramp at the same point each time, or for the setup without the ramp, will initially launch the car and release it prior to the starting point A),
• One virtual team member will communicate to the other team members when the car has crossed Point A (can be the launcher!.
• One virtual team member will measure the time to reach Point B.
• One virtual team member will measure the time to reach Point C.

1. Synchronize the stop watches.
2. When the car crosses point A, start the stopwatch timers (decide which part of car to time!)
3. For each of the two experiment setups, record the times at which the car crosses point B and point C (do this twice for each experiment setup, to get two sets of measurements for each). This is your DATA. For this virtual experiment, your data to use is in the table below.

Car Launch	A_to_B distance	A_to_B time	A_to_C distance	A_to_C time
Manual Launch 1	3.00m	1.69s	6.00m	3.43s
Manual Launch 2	3.00m	2.11s	6.00m	3.88s
Ramp Launch 1	3.00m	1.82s	6.00m	3.92s
Ramp Launch 2	3.00m	1.88s	6.00m	3.88s

1. Calculate the distance/time (average speed) for:

(a) A_to_B,

(b) B_to_C, and

(c) A_to_C crossings.

These are your calculations to put in your ANALYSIS section of the Lab report). Note that you have measured the times directly for the A to B and A to C distances. You need to calculatethe B_to_C time. SHOW YOUR EQUATIONS that you use in the report!

B_to_C time = A_to_C time - A_to_B time

Average speed = distance/time

A_to_B Average speed = (A_to_B distance)/(A_to_B time)

Calculate and then tabulate your results in the ANALYSIS table.

Car Launch	A_to_B average speed	A_to_C average Speed	B_to_C average speed
Manual Launch 1
Manual Launch 2
Ramp Launch 1
Ramp Launch 2

This distance/time calculation is the AVERAGE SPEED between A_to_B, A_to_C and B_to_C lengths. SHOW YOUR EQUATION that you use for this in the report!

For each of the questions below, include the question number in your report.

1. For Manual Launch 1, compare the A_to_B average speed to the B_to_C average speed. Do this also for Manual Launch 2, Ramp Launch 1 and Ramp Launch 2. Do NOT compare the speeds between different runs, only within each run.
2. What can you conclude about these speeds? Is the A_to_B faster than B_to_C, or is B_to_C faster than A_to_C? Is this what you expect? If yes, why? If no, why not?
3. Identify at least 5 possible sources of experiment setup error and 5 possible sources of human error that may affect your experiment results (10 sources altogether).

Type up your results in the Laboratory Report format and submit in eLearning.