PHYS200 Home Lab Manual - Version 2.

Experiment 3 Kinematics

Jared Hoffman 3091445 Feb 19, 2013

Introduction
Kinematics describes how objects move. The study of kinematics examines the motion of objects and how this motion relates to force and energy. When describing an object that moves along a straight path, the distance traveled over time is an important measure. It can determine the velocity and the acceleration of the object. Similarly, when an object is thrown into the air, it will travel a certain vertical distance before descending to its initial position. It is important to understand why the object begins to travel downward. In addition, it is important understand why an object travels at a constant velocity rather than increasing in velocity over time, thus, accelerating. In the present experiment, the distance a ball travels over time will be measured to determine its velocity and acceleration using a graphical representation. The equations used in this experiment are shown below.

Procedure
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. The Go!Motion device was connected to a laptop. The Logger Pro software was opened to record the collected data from the Go!Motion device. The Go!Motion was placed vertically on the floor. A soccer ball was placed 50 cm in front of the Go!Motion device. The Collect button in the Logger Pro software was pressed in order to record the data and the ball was gently pushed forward. Steps 4-5 were repeated except that the ball was pushed with a greater force in order to make it move faster. Steps 4-5 were repeated except that the ball was placed further away from the Go!Motion device and pushed towards the Go!Motion device. The Go!Motion device was on the floor facing upward. A soccer ball was placed 50 cm above the Go!Motion device. The Collect button in the Logger Pro software was pressed in order to record the data and the ball was thrown into the air.

Pictures
The materials and set-up of the experiment are shown below. Figure 1 illustrates the overall experiment set-up and the materials used: a laptop, the Go!Motion device, and a soccer ball. Figure 2 shows the experiment set-up for the uniform velocity analysis. Figure 3 shows the experiment set-up for the uniform acceleration analysis.

Figure 1: Experiment Set-up and Materials

Figure 2: Uniform Velocity Set-up

Figure 3: Uniform Acceleration Set-Up

Uniform Velocity Data

Time (s) 0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90 0.95 1.00 1.05 1.10 1.15 1.20 1.25 1.30 1.35 1.40 1.45 1.50 1.55 1.60 Position Velocity (m) (m/s) 0.161 0.166 0.161 0.171 0.198 0.238 0.275 0.314 0.350 0.388 0.424 0.459 0.497 0.533 0.569 0.604 0.639 0.662 0.666 0.666 0.666 0.024 0.033 0.126 0.369 0.607 0.727 0.754 0.750 0.739 0.733 0.725 0.733 0.732 0.719 0.701 0.657 0.528 0.294 0.099 0.022 0.002 Time (s) 0.90 0.95 1.00 1.05 1.10 1.15 1.20 1.25 1.30 1.35 Position Velocity (m) (m/s) 0.218 0.219 0.285 0.384 0.478 0.573 0.659 0.665 0.663 0.665 0.237 0.764 1.457 1.801 1.817 1.584 0.926 0.275 0.053 -0.004 Time (s) 1.00 1.05 1.10 1.15 1.20 1.25 1.30 1.35 1.40 1.45 1.50 1.55 1.60 1.65 1.70 Position Velocity (m) (m/s) 0.663 0.663 0.663 0.660 0.616 0.551 0.486 0.423 0.359 0.292 0.228 0.167 0.160 0.161 0.160 -0.002 -0.032 -0.158 -0.522 -0.973 -1.214 -1.275 -1.281 -1.295 -1.266 -1.104 -0.668 -0.219 -0.046 0.001

The data used in the uniform velocity analysis is shown above. The tables only contain the data where the soccer ball shows significant change in position of the ball. The table to the left contains the data where the soccer ball was gently pushed forward. The centre table contains the data where the soccer ball was pushed with a greater force. As shown, the ball travels faster and at a greater distance in less time when it is pushed with a greater force. The table on the right contains the data where the ball is pushed towards the Go!Motion device. As shown, the velocity of the ball are negative values and the position decreases when the ball was pushed towards the Go!Motion device.

Uniform Acceleration Data

Time (s) 0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90 0.95 1.00 1.05 1.10 1.15 1.20 1.25 1.30 1.35 1.40 1.45 1.50 1.55 1.60 1.65 Position Velocity (m) (m/s) 0.242 0.248 0.262 0.305 0.410 0.577 0.730 0.853 0.952 1.023 1.071 1.097 1.097 1.073 1.025 0.951 0.858 0.737 0.588 0.416 0.235 0.175 0.160 0.119 0.309 0.757 1.559 2.473 2.894 2.681 2.223 1.708 1.206 0.734 0.253 -0.236 -0.724 -1.209 -1.679 -2.166 -2.678 -3.071 -3.090 -2.236 -1.032 -0.319

The data used in the uniform acceleration analysis is shown above. The table only contains the data when the ball was thrown into the air. As demonstrated, the ball begins to decelerate upwards and reaches a peak position where the ball then begins to accelerate.

Uniform Velocity Analysis

The LP software determined the line of best fit of the soccer ball to be x = 0.7327t - 0.3833 when it was gently pushed away from the Go!Motion. The position versus time graph and its line of best fit is shown above. The slope of the line is the average velocity of the ball over time; therefore, the average velocity of the ball is 0.7327m/s. In comparison to the velocity versus time graph, the velocities are nearly equal the slope of the line of best fit. This can be seen in the highlighted portions of the graphs shown above.

The LP software determined the line of best fit of the soccer ball to be x = 1.892t - 1.603 when it was pushed with a greater force away from the Go!Motion. The position versus time graph and its line of best fit is shown above. The average velocity of the ball is 1.892m/s. The ball is travelling at much greater velocity when it is pushed with a greater force. In comparison to the velocity versus time graph, the velocities are nearly equal the slope of the line of best fit. This can be seen in the highlighted portions of the graphs shown above.

The LP software determined the line of best fit of the soccer ball to be x = -1.293t - 3.267 when it was pushed with a greater force away from the Go!Motion. The position versus time graph and its line of best fit is shown above. The average velocity of the ball is -1.293m/s. Since the ball is travelling towards Go!Motion device, the average velocity is a negative value. This shows that velocity is based on direction in which it is moving. In comparison to the velocity versus time graph, the velocities are nearly equal the slope of the line of best fit. This can be seen in the highlighted portions of the graphs shown above.

Uniform Acceleration Analysis

The LP software determined the curve fit of the ball when thrown in the air to be y = -5.062t2 + 10.95t - 4.874. The graph and curve fit is shown above. The acceleration of the ball is -5.062m/s2 which is much lower than the acceleration due to gravity. The percentage difference is 63.8%. The acceleration of the ball should roughly equal the acceleration due to gravity. This error could be a result from how the ball was thrown or a limitation of the GO!Motion device. The initial velocity of the ball is 10.95 m/s based on the curve fit but does not match any velocity shown in the velocity versus time graph. This is because the ball was not thrown at time equal to zero. If the line of best fit was determined for the velocity versus time graph, the y-intercept would likely equal 10.95m/s. The curve fit shows the initial position of the ball to equal -4.874m. In addition, the ball reaches its peak position at 1.082s based on the curve fit. The sample calculations are shown below.

Sample Calculations

Conclusion
In this experiment, a soccer ball was rolled horizontally and tossed vertically to further understand the kinematics of an object. Results show that velocity is the magnitude of the rate of change of the position and direction of motion. For instance, when the ball traveled away from Go!Motion device the velocity values were positive; whereas, velocity values were negative when traveling toward the device. In addition, the experiment demonstrates how a graphical representation of distance over time can determine the acceleration and velocity of an object. A line of best fit determined the average velocity of the ball when it is traveling in a linear manner. Furthermore, a curve fit can determine the initial velocity and acceleration of the soccer ball when tossed in the air. The ball did not accelerate at the same rate as gravity which showed errors in the experiment. The experiment could be improved if it was done in a vacuum sealed room, and if it ball was rolled and tossed in a straight path.

Questions
1. If the velocity of a particle if nonzero, the particles acceleration can be zero. The particle can be travelling at a constant; therefore, it is not deceleration or acceleration meaning that the acceleration is zero. 2. If the velocity of a particle is zero, the particles acceleration can zero. If the particles velocity and acceleration is zero than the particle is at rest. 3. If a car is traveling eastward, the car can be accelerating westward. The car is decelerating when traveling eastward. For example, if a car is traveling eastward at a constant speed and applies its breaks, the car will begin to accelerate westward.