Set up: Place the ramp at an angle using textbooks so
that a tennis ball will barely roll 6 meters.
Using a meter stick, measure one meter straight out from the bottom of
the ramp and mark the spot using masking tape or a sticky note. Continue
measuring and marking each meter until you have marks for six meters. The set up should look something like the
diagram below when you are finished.
Procedure: Place the tennis ball on the top of the ramp
and let it roll down the ramp. Start
timing the ball from the point that it leaves the ramp and stop timing as soon
as it passes the one meter mark. Record
the time in the data table below. Make sure to include units on all your
times. Repeat this twice more until you
have recorded three times for the one meter mark.
Repeat for each consecutive meter until
you have three times for all six meters.
Data Table
|
Distance |
1m |
2m |
3m |
4m |
5m |
6m |
|
Time a (s) |
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|
Time b (s) |
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Time c (s) |
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Average time (s) |
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Speed (m/s) |
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Analysis:
1.
Average
all three times for each meter and record on the data table above.
2.
Calculate
the speed at each meter and record on the data table above.
3.
On
a piece of graph paper, graph the distance vs. the average time.
4.
On
the other side of the graph paper, graph the speed vs. the average time
5.
Answer
the questions below.
Questions: (Answer on the back side
of this sheet.)
1.
Where
is the ball traveling the fastest?
2.
Where
is the ball traveling the slowest?
3.
Why
did the speed of the ball change?
4.
Describe
the distance vs. time graph.
5.
What
causes it to look like it does?
6.
Describe
the speed vs. time graph.
7.
What
causes it to look the way it does?
8.
Use
the speed vs. time graph to determine the speed of the ball when it leaves the
ramp. (Hint: it is where the Best Fit Line crosses the y-axis)