PHY10L: E102 Kinematics

Objectives:
To study motion by determining the velocity and acceleration
To determine experimentally the acceleration due to gravity
Materials
1 pc Dynamics Cart
1 pc Dynamics 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 Meter Stick
1 pc Stand
PHY10L: E102 Kinematics
In physics, motion is categorized into 3 types: translational (PHY10),
rotational (PHY11), vibrational (PHY12)
Kinematics - is the classification and comparison of motions by ignoring
the interactions with external agents that might be causing or modifying
that motion.
For this activity, we restrict motion in three ways:
1. We consider motion along a straight line only
2. We discuss only the motion itself, not the forces that cause it
3. We consider the moving object to be a particle: an object that moves
such that each part travels in the same direction at the same rate (no
rotation or stretching)
PHY10L: E102 Kinematics
Average velocity is the ratio of the displacement, x, to the
time interval in which the displacement occurred, t .

Average velocity is a vector quantity

It has units of (distance) / (time)
o meters per second, m/s
PHY10L: E102 Kinematics
Instantaneous velocity, or just velocity, v, is:
o At a single moment in time, frozen in time, shrinking t
o The slope of the position-time curve for a particle at an instant
(the derivative of position)
o A vector quantity with units (distance) / (time)
The sign of the velocity represents its direction
PHY10L: E102 Kinematics
Acceleration is the change in a particle's velocity
Average acceleration over a time interval t is

Instantaneous acceleration (or just acceleration), a, for a single

moment in time is:

o Slope of velocity vs. time graph

 Motion Analysis Calculus Method

The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus gives:

 Kinematic Equations

When the acceleration is constant, the average and

instantaneous accelerations are equal
Also, the average velocity can be expressed as:
PHY10L: E102 Part 1
Determine the average velocity of the cart

Photogate 1 Photogate 2
Picket fence
Smart timer
CART

Track

5 trials
PHY10L: E102 Part 2
Determine the acceleration due to gravity from the carts
acceleration

Photogate 1
Picket fence Photogate 2

Smart timer

Screw

Inclined track

5 trials
PHY10L: E102 Part 3
Free Fall

Picket fence

Photogate 1

5 trials

Smart timer
 Group Report Page
(Handwritten)
E10x: Title
Group #:

Member Contributions (MC)

Contributor Contribution
1. C1 Leader
2. C2 _________
3. C3 _________
4. . _________

Weekly Assigned Problem (WAP): in MSWord or MSExcel

How to make a graph using MSExcel

Remarks/Recommendations (RR)
 WAP

Weekly Assigned Problem (WAP): in MSWord or MSExcel

Construct your graphs using MSExcel

Part A. Position versus time Part B. Acceleration versus sinq

What is the y-intercept? What is the curves slope?

What is this value equal to? What is this value equal to?
 Sample Figure and Caption

Position vs. Time Plot

14

12
y = 1.955x - 2.2886
10
R2 = 0.9542
Position, m

0
0 2 4 6 8
Time, s

Figure 1. Graph of Position vs. Time. A linear fit was obtained, having an
equation y=1.95x-2.28. It shows that with time, the position increases by a
factor of 1.95, denoting the velocity of the ball.
 For submission today
INDIVIDUAL
Data Sheet (Tables 1, 2 and 3) 5%
Sample computation for Tables 1, 2, 3 5%
Computation of Percentage Errors (Tables 1,2,3) 5%

GROUP
WAP (Weekly Assigned/application Problems) 10%
Construct the two graphs using Excel
Group attendance with remarks/recommendations

Answers to Guide Questions use only as your guide to Analysis

Answers to Problems due next week
h a2 b2 Individual Report Page/s
(Typewritten, short bond paper, 1 margin on all sides
max of 2 pages)

E10x: 14 pt Times New Roman, Bold, Centered (Compose your own

title)
Name: 12 pt TNR, Centered

I. Analysis: (12 pt TNR, single space, in paragraph form, justify)

The Analysis cites the main objective of the experiment and its importance/significance. A concise overview of
the experiment's methodology should be given, inferences about the results/data and their importance should be
emphasized. The accuracy of the results can also be noted by citing the percentage error of the data. Minimize
attribution of errors to human frailties.
Equations must be numbered and centered. For example, the magnitude of the resultant vector, F, is

F Fx Fy
2 2 (1)

Remember: This section should contain "proof" or supporting evidence of to the objectives. Any inference should
therefore be backed up by accurate results/data (i.e. complete with error analysis/sources).

Comprehension questions in the lab manual can be considered as a guide to discuss your results. However,
discussion of your results is NOT LIMITED on what is asked in these questions. Neither is this section a space to
answer comprehension questions. This section is for you to explore and analyze your results.
 Individual Report Page/s
(Typewritten, short bond paper, 1 margin on all sides
max of 2 pages)

II. Conclusion: (in bullet form, max of 10 bullets)

Main principles
Proofs
Important inferences
Recommendations

Plagiarism is a form of cheating and is a

serious concern.

Plagiarized report = 0/50% !

 Sample Table and Caption

Table 1. Position of an object for every one second

interval of time
Distance (m) Time (s)

1 1

1.4 2

2.5 3

4.5 4
 Tell me and I forget,
teach me and I may remember,
involve me and I learn.