Experiment no.

2
Kinematics



Kinematics analyzes the positions and motions of objects as a function of time, without regard to the causes
of motion. In the experiment we are dealing with the motion of a particle in a straight line and experimentally
the acceleration due to gravity. The first part is the determination of the average velocity of a dynamic cart
by which we measure the time through the smart timer and measure the displacement to calculate the
velocity. The second part is the determination of acceleration due to gravity using carts acceleration. This
time the track is inclined where the height and angle of the track is considered to compute for the
acceleration due to gravity. The last part is the determination of acceleration due to gravity using picket
fence and smart timer. After the experiment, we got a low percent error which means that the experiment
was a success. We got to conclude that as the time and displacement increases the velocity is almost the
same in the motion of a particle in a straight line. The experimental value of g (976.56 cm/s
2
) we got is very
near to the actual value of g which is 980 cm/s
2
.







I. Introduction Without considering the cause of
motion, study of motion and position which
involves displacement, velocity,
acceleration, and time is Kinematics. The
motion of a particle in a straight line is
defined by determining the average
velocity. Determining Average acceleration
is for the comparison of the experimental
and actual value of g.
II. Materials
1 pc Dynamic Cart (ME-9430)
1 pc Dynamic Track w/ Angle indicator and
End Stop
2 pcs Photogate
1 pc Smart Timer
2 pcs Photogate Mounting Bracket
1 pc Smart Timer Picket Fence
1 pc Stand
III. Procedure
For the first part, set the track in a flat
surface and at the 118 cm mark place the
end stop. The track must level that the cart
will be stationary in the track. Then set up
the cart with the picket fence and the two
photogates at the given distance (25 cm
and 65 cm from the starting point). Connect
the photogates on the smart timer using
the phone plugs. Be sure to connect the
phone plugs correctly through channels 1
and 2. Set the mode of the smart timer to
measure TIME,TWO GATES. The start/stop
button is the button 3. Set the spring
plunger of the cart. Place the cart at the
starting point (0 cm) and launch the cart by
pressing the trigger. Record the reading
from the smart timer (it will serve as the
time t for the first trial). Calculate for the
displacement. Repeat the process of taking
the reading from the timer to perform 5
trials with increase in displacement by 10
cm in each trial. Lastly, plot a graph from
the data gathered (displacement vs time).
For the second part, the track is not
level but inclined at the starting point has
an initial height of 5 cm and place the end
stop at the lower end (X
1
). Set up the
photogate at the 80 cm mark, this time we
will be using only 1 photogate. Set the
smart timer to ACCEL, ONE GATE. Compute
for the angle of inclination using the tracks
total length and height. Set the cart with
the picket fence at the starting point which
is the higher end of the track (X
0
). Release
the cart and record the reading from the
smart timer for the acceleration a. Repeat
the process to acquire 5 trials with each
trial has an increase in height by 2 cm.
calculate the total displacement and sin .
Calculate the average experimental value of
g and solve the percent error using the
actual value of g which is 980 cm/s
2
.
For the third part, you will only use one
photogate which is set up horizontally. Set
the smart timer to ACCEL, ONE GATE.
Restart the timer by pressing button 3. Drop
the picket fence vertically that would pass
through the photogate (Make sure that the
picket fence will drop perpendicular to the
photogate. Record the reading of the
acceleration a. Repeat for 5 trials and
compute for the average acceleration a,
and compare it with the actual value which
is 980 cm/s
2
by the percent error.

IV. Results and Discussion
Part A.
Trial X
1
X
1
-X
0
t v
1 65 cm 40
cm
0.514 s 77.8
cm/s
2
2 75 cm 50
cm
0.649 s 77.0
cm/s
2
3 85 cm 60
cm
0.782 s 76.7
cm/s
2
4 95 cm 70
cm
0.895 s 78.2
cm/s
2
5 105cm 80
cm
1.03 s 77.7
cm/s
2

For part A: data shows that the velocity is
almost at a constant rate as the time and
displacement increases.
Part B.
X
0
= 18 cm L = 120 cm

X
1
= 80 cm X
1
-X
0
= 62 cm

Trial H a Sin g t
1 5 cm 41.4
cm/s
2
0.042 985.7
cm/s
2

1.73
s
2 7 cm 57.6
cm/s
2
0.058 993.1
cm/s
2

1.47
s
3 9 cm 73.4
cm/s
2

0.075 978.7
cm/s
2

1.30
s
4 11
cm
88.8
cm/s
2

0.092 965.2
cm/s
2

1.18
s
5 13
cm
103.7
cm/s
2

0.108 960.2
cm/s
2

1.09
s

g =980 cm/s
2
Ave g=
976.56 cm/s
2

% error =
0.035 %

For Part B: The Average value of g we get from
the experimental values is near to the true
value of g which is 980 cm/s
2
.
Part C.
Trial Acceleration a
1 989.8 cm/s
2

2 997.6 cm/s
2

3 980.7 cm/s
2

4 977.2 cm/s
2

5 987.6 cm/s
2

Average 986.6 cm/s
2

% error 0.67 %

For Part C: 0.67% percent error which means
that the average value from experimental g is
near to the true value of g (980 cm/s
2
).
V. Conclusion
After the experiment, we manage to study
the motion by determining the velocity and
acceleration. Doing this help us to compare
actual values like acceleration due to gravity to
our experimental value. For the part A in the
experiment, the values of the velocity are
almost the same given that the time and
displacement increases. For part B in the
experiment, as the angle of inclination and
acceleration increases the rate of time
decreases. For part B and C, the average value
from experimental g is near to the true value of
g (980 cm/s
2
).








VI. References
Utuledo.edu
http://astro1.panet.utoledo.edu/~tkvale/ph
ys2130/fall2004/Chapter02-1.pdf (5/21/14)
Britannica.com
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked
/topic/318099/kinematics (5/21/14)




VII. Acknowledgements
Prof. Pulido for guiding us throughout the
experiment and being approachable.
Groupmates for cooperating and helping to
accomplish the experiment early and properly.
Classmates for making the class more active
and having fun while doing the experiment.



















GRAPHS
Part A.

Part B.


0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
0.514 0.649 0.782 0.895 1.03
Displacement vs. Time
Displacement vs. Time
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
0.042 0.058 0.075 0.092 0.108
Acceleration vs. Sin
Acceleration vs. Sin