Laboratory Report #2: Constant Acceleration in Linear Motion

Anonas, Isabelle Kae M.; Marcelino, Jessa T.; Rioflorido, Cristina Andrea N.
PS 2 J Group #4

I. Introduction
This experiment is about constant acceleration in Linear Motion. Presented here are the
comparison between the acceleration of an object along a horizontal plane and an inclined plane. The
results were obtained by conducting two activities that focused on the fundamentals of linear motion to
determine the distance, velocity and acceleration. It was observed that the object has greater acceleration
when inclined than when on a horizontal surface. And a larger inclination also means a greater
acceleration. In conducting the experiment, the patience and the consistency of the experimenters were
developed due to the several trials needed required to having an accurate and precise results.

II. Materials and Methodology

The materials used for the experiment were Windows PC; LabPro; Logger Pro 3.8.4; glider/cart
with picket fence or Picket Fence; linear rail track; photogate kit, iron stand, elbow clamp, and end
stopper. These were used to perform two activities. First is the Activity A, Acceleration along a horizontal
plane and the second one is the Activity B. Acceleration along an inclined plane.

For the first activity, we were asked to obtain the acceleration value of the glider along a linear
track while the second activity asked us to get the acceleration value of the glider along an inclined plane.

After setting up, we conducted 5 trials for each activity and recorded the results. We made a
graph of the first trials of the two activities and recorded the other important data such as the values of the
slopes of the 5 trials we made.

photogate

cart
computer

track

Figure 1. Schematic diagram showing the cart, track and motion sensor

III. Results and Discussion

Table 1. Acceleration values along a horizontal and an inclined plane.

Mass of glider (kg): 470.3 g

1st inclination: θ1 = 4.69° 2nd inclination: θ2 = 2.34°

Trial Number Acceleration values (m/s2) Acceleration values (m/s2)

1 0.7007 0.3731

2 0.6469 0.3438

1
 3 0.6463 0.3282

4 0.6706 0.3845

5 0.6490 0.3059

Average Acceleration (m/s2) 0.6627 0.3471

In the first activity, we calculated the angle between the inclined plane and the horizontal by measuring
the height and the length of the incline and by using the equation:
Sinθ = height/ length (1)

Table 2. Comparison of theoretical and experimental values of acceleration.

Angle of Inclination (θ) Theoretical acceleration Average experimental Percentage Error

acceleration
(a = g sinθ)

θ1: 4.69° 0.8012 m/s2 0.6627 m/s2 17.286 %

θ2:2.34° 0.4001 m/s2 0.3471 m/s2 13.2466 %

To compute for the Theoretical acceleration we used the formula:

a= g sinθ

and for the Percentage error:

PE= [(absolute value of experimental yield- theoretical yield) / theoretical yield]x 100 %

Activity A. Acceleration along a horizontal plane

1. Slow gentle push

2
2. Stronger Push

3
Activity B. Acceleration along an inclined plane

1. Plots for first inclination:

4
3. Plots for 2nd inclination

5
 There were some discrepancies in the results we obtained mainly because of the inconsistency of
the force applied onto the glider while doing the experiment. Also, the computed values may not be very
accurate because we are rounding it off to 4 decimal places.

IV. Questions
Q1: Describe the motion of the glider for the case where the air track is horizontal -- both for slow and
fast initial velocities.
The glider traveled the track at a constant acceleration.
Q2: In your distance vs. time graph, which one gave a better fit – linear or quadratic? Why?

The linear gave a better fit in our distance vs. time graph because the relationship of distance
and time is directly proportional. As the time increases, the distance also increases.

Q3: Describe in words the shape of the velocity vs. time graph. How is this related to the shape of the
distance vs. time graph?

The velocity vs. time graph is a straight line. And when you get the slope of the distance vs.
time graph, you will get the graph of the velocity vs. time.

Q4: How well did your results compare to the theoretical result, g sinθ? Why aren’t they exactly equal?

The results we obtained for the experimental acceleration are lesser compared to the
theoretical acceleration. The values of the two are not exactly equal because, there are some external
factors that affected the results such as the, force exerted onto the glider is not consistent for the five
trials.

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 V. Conclusions
In this experiment, it is shown that the acceleration of the glider along an inclined plane is greater
than its acceleration along a horizontal plane. It is also shown here that the larger the angle of inclination,
the greater the acceleration of the glider along the plane. Also, there is a relationship between the graphs
of distance vs. time, velocity vs. time and the acceleration vs. time. The slope of the distance vs. time
graph is the velocity vs. time graph itself. And the slope of the velocity vs. time graph is the acceleration
vs. time itself. Their graphs are dependent on each other.