Objective
The purpose of the lab is to find the horizontal distance of the marble, as well as the time it takes for the marble to fall.
Materials
- LabQuest
- Photogate
- Marble
- Ramp
- Ruler
- Tape
Procedure
Data
The purpose of the lab is to find the horizontal distance of the marble, as well as the time it takes for the marble to fall.
Materials
- LabQuest
- Photogate
- Marble
- Ramp
- Ruler
- Tape
Procedure
- Place the ramp on the table 20 centimeters away from the edge.
- Set up the two photogates, 8 cm away from each other, to measure the horizontal velocity of the marble.
- Place the marble at the top of the ramp and release it.
- Measure and record the marble's velocity and distance.
- Calculate the distance traveled by the marble.
Data
Analysis
We used the ramp to roll the marble to the floor, the photogates to measure the horizontal velocity of the marble, and a meter stick to measure the actual distance of the marble. We then used our calculations to find the theoretical distance. Our results show that the actual and theoretical distances are generally very close. At the most they were only a few centimeters off.
Calculations
Distance Equation: dx = Vxt
Time Equation: dy = .5gt^2
Table Height: 75 cm
Time = 0.391 s
- Trial 1: (1.354 m/s)(0.391 s) = 53 cm
Actual Distance: 52 cm
- Trial 2: (1.482 m/s)(0.391 s) = 58 cm
Actual Distance: 53 cm
- Trial 3: (1.322 m/s)(0.391 s) = 52 cm
Actual Distance: 55 cm
- Trial 4: (1.501 m/s)(0.391 s) = 59 cm
Actual Distance: 53 cm
Conclusion
We did this lab to compare the theoretical and actual distances of the marble rolled on a ramp off of a table. We measured the distance the marble rolled before it hit the floor and the velocity. We used this data to find the theoretical distance of the marble. We constructed a chart and compared these two sets of data. The hypothesis that the two sets of data would be extremely similar was proven right.
We used the ramp to roll the marble to the floor, the photogates to measure the horizontal velocity of the marble, and a meter stick to measure the actual distance of the marble. We then used our calculations to find the theoretical distance. Our results show that the actual and theoretical distances are generally very close. At the most they were only a few centimeters off.
Calculations
Distance Equation: dx = Vxt
Time Equation: dy = .5gt^2
Table Height: 75 cm
Time = 0.391 s
- Trial 1: (1.354 m/s)(0.391 s) = 53 cm
Actual Distance: 52 cm
- Trial 2: (1.482 m/s)(0.391 s) = 58 cm
Actual Distance: 53 cm
- Trial 3: (1.322 m/s)(0.391 s) = 52 cm
Actual Distance: 55 cm
- Trial 4: (1.501 m/s)(0.391 s) = 59 cm
Actual Distance: 53 cm
Conclusion
We did this lab to compare the theoretical and actual distances of the marble rolled on a ramp off of a table. We measured the distance the marble rolled before it hit the floor and the velocity. We used this data to find the theoretical distance of the marble. We constructed a chart and compared these two sets of data. The hypothesis that the two sets of data would be extremely similar was proven right.