Name: Grade and Section: Date:

Activity 4.1

Roll, Roll and Away!

Objectives:

 Record the time for the tin can to travel a given distance;
 Calculate the acceleration of the can rolling down an inclined plane, given a distance vs. time and distance
vs. time2 graph of its motion; and
 Describe the motion of an object given a distance vs. time or a distance vs. time2 graph.
Materials:
 Board/plank (at least 200 cm long)
 Timing device (stopwatch)
 Tin can
 Stack of books
 Protractor
Procedure:
1. Set up an inclined plane by putting one end of the plane on top of a stack of books. Mark the plane for every 40
cm and label these as 40 cm, 80 cm, 60, cm 120 cm, and so on, starting from the lowest end.
2. Measure the base and the height and calculate the angle of inclination. Use the formula, Ɵ = tan-1(height / base)

3. Roll the tin can from each labeled point starting with the 40 cm mark. Start the timer as the tin can is released,
and stop the timer when the tin can reaches the bottom of the inclined plane.
4. . Ask your partner to record the time (t) taken by the tin can to travel each distance (d) down the plane. Perform
three trials from each mark. Use the table below for your data.

5. Graph d vs. t and then d vs. t2.

Distance Time, t (s) Time2

d (cm) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average t2 (s2)
40
80
120
160
200
Guide Questions:

1. How will you describe the graphs of:

a. Distance vs. time?

b. Distance vs. time2?

2. What is the relationship between distance and time of travel of the rolling can?

3. What is the slope of d – t2 graph? What quantity does the slope of d – t2 graph represent? (Refer to the unit of
the slope)

4. What do the graphs of distance vs. time and distance vs. time2suggest?