Kinematic Experiment

Lab Report
How can the height of a ramp affect the velocity of a table tennis ball?

Ann Yip
SPA5C.01
5 September 2016


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 Aim
The aim is to be familiar with Galileo's inclined plane by observing the
experiment and measure motion on an inclined plane. Understanding the
relationships between distance, time, average speed, instantaneous speed,
and acceleration. In addition, to overcome the difficulties in analyzing
experimental data or the process to make the conclusions. And try to collect
the datas carefully and accurately.

Background

Galileo designed experiments to study accelerated motion using the inclined

plane. His reasoning suggested that objects rolling down a ramp behaved
similarly to objects in freefall so that he could understand freefall by studying
ramps. This experiment is designed to reproduce a portion of Galileo's
experiments.He also discovered that the speed of a falling object depends
only on the height from which it falls. He deduced
that an object which is uniformly accelerated will
travel a greater distance in each successive time
interval such that the distance traveled is directly
proportional to the square of the time.

In this practical the acceleration of a ball rolling

down a slope will be determined by measuring
the time it takes to roll different distances.


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 Hypothesis

Consider to the dependent and independent variables, also related to

the laws and theory. Our team hypothesized that if the height of the ramp is
increased, the table tennis ball will generate more acceleration as it goes
down the ramp. The Distance is directly proportional to the time if an
acceleration is uniform and the rate of acceleration is proportional to incline
of ramp.

Independent variables:

❖ The time for ball to roll (Because we can not measure the time exactly)
❖ The steepness

Dependent variables:

❖ Distance such as displacement

❖ The height of the ramp

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 Materials and Equipment

- One meter stick (+/- 0.5 cm)

- 4 table tennis balls
- Stopwatch (+/- 0.01 seconds)
- Ramp
- Protractor
- Several erasers

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 Procedure (Methods)

1. Set up the ramp with height ( h ) = 0.20 m above the table by using tools

like stick and protractor. Measured the height from table to the top of the

ramp. （ Use erasers us the supports ）

2. Measure the distance from the beginning point ( P )to the end point ( E ).

3. Adjusted the equipments and prepared to begin.

4. Observed carefully and made notes of anything that might be relevant .

5. Starting with the ball at rest, used the stopwatch to measure the time.

6. Said "start" when ball was started , said "end" when ball was rolled out

the end edge of the ramp.

7. Stop-watch stopped and wrote the datas on report.

8. Make 4 time measurements, record in data table .

9. Repeat steps 2 to 5 steps for distances of 0.60, 0.40 m.

10. Calculated the results by plugging them in physic equations and to testify

the hypothesis.

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 Relevant Equations

Those 4 equations are famous kinematic

for calculating one dimensional motions.

And we are going to use them to testify our

hypothesis.

Given :

The beginning point ( P )to the end point ( E ) of the ramp :

❖ 0.3 m

Initial velocity:

❖ At rest ( 0 m/s 2)

Time :

❖ In the datas

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 Collect Data

Time (+ or - 0.5 s) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4

_________________

Height
(+ or - 2 cm )

0.1 m 3.68 s 3.46 s 3.55 s 3.65 s

(20 degrees)

0.2 m 2.56 s 2.46 s 2.64 s 2.59 s

(30 degrees)

0.3 m 1.34 s 1.29 s 1.38 s 1.32 s

(40 degrees)

Data Analysis (Result)

Calculating the average time for the trail of ramp’s height at 0.1 m : ( A )

(3.68+3.46+3.55+3.65) = 3.585 S
4

Calculating the average time for the trail of ramp’s height at 0.4 m : ( B )

(2.56+2.46+2.64+2.59) = 2.562 S
4

Calculating the average time for the trail of ramp’s height at 0.6 m : ( C ) and

(1.34+1.29+1.38+1.32) = 1.332 S
4

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Use the equation:

0.3 = 0 + 1/2 a1 (1.332)^2

a1 = 0.338 m/s^2

0.3 = 0 + 1/2 a2 (2.562)^2

a2 = 0.0914 m/s^2

0.3 = 0 + 1/2 a3 (3.585)^2

a3 =0.04668 m/s^2

Conclusion
( PS : I actually did the a new experiment in home because I had so many things confused about,
and Phillip didn't recorded and measured accurately in some parts, it also lacked some
informations. So I tried to did a experiment in home, the materials were easy to handle and prepare
too. )

In this lab we measured the time and velocity of a rolling ball down a ramp
at same height. And then calculated the acceleration to compare to other
different distance. Our variables in which we used to determine speed was a
table tennis ball, and a ramp we placed the ball on to measure its speed. I
conducted four trials with the same height of the ramp and the timings were
pretty close which means that the acceleration of the ball is constant in that
specific height and degrees.

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Compare and analyzed to our result, we found out the result of the average
time and different accelerations for our three ramps. The average time for
ramp 1 (0.1 m)is 3.585s, ramp 2 (0.2 m) is 2.562s and ramp 3 (0.3 m). So, the
average time was significantly became quicker, because the increasing
degrees of the ramp, which means the steeper the ramp, the quicker the ball.
the acceleration is influenced by the steepness such us height and degrees.

The basis for the Law of Falling Bodies is that as the ball rolls down the ramp
it accelerates. As its velocity is increasing, the distance that it travels in each
unit of time increases. Compare to our acceleration’s result,ramp 1 has a
acceleration of 0.338 m/s^2, ramp 2 has a acceleration of 0.0914 m/s^2 and
ramp 3 has a acceleration of 0.04668 m/s^2. The acceleration is significantly
increased. So, I concluded that if you increase the steepness of the ramp, then
you will increase the acceleration of a ball which rolls down the ramp. And
this can be seen in two different ways, components of forces and work and
energy. Forces are vectors and have a direction and a magnitude. The force of
gravity points straight down, but a ball rolling down a ramp doesn't go
straight down, it follows the ramp. Therefore, only the component of the
gravitational force which points along the direction of the ball's motion can
accelerate the ball. Work and energy. The change in potential energy of the
ball is its mass times the change in height (only the vertical component
counts -- horizontal displacements do not change gravitational potential
energy) times the local gravitational acceleration g. This loss of gravitational
potential energy shows up as an increase in kinetic energy.

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 Evaluation

Firstly, the prediction was correct. the height of the ramp is increased, the
table tennis ball will generate more acceleration as it goes down the ramp.
The distance is directly proportional to the time if an acceleration is uniform
and the rate of acceleration is proportional to incline of ramp.

Secondly, for safety precaution, this is a experiment that using safe materials
and simple processes. It doesn't involved chemical substances. So, all we
should so is to set up the equipment and do measure and time. Just don't
play the stick or balls and hurt other accidentally.

Thirdly, for the reflection of this experiment, I could have been more
accurate on timing, because I did not know when the ball would pass the end
point exactly. So, the data shows that there were some fairly big random
errors in the time measurement; this could be due to the difficulty in starting
and stopping the clock which was done by hand. It was noticed that the ball
did not always run along exactly the same path, sometimes it wobbled
significantly. But I ask other to help me. One person focused on the beginning
point, one person focused on stop watch and another person focused on end
point. The person who responsible for timing just need to listen to "start "and
"end ".

Lastly, If I could do the experiments again I would repeat them more than
three times to get a higher level of accuracy. Along with access to more
skilled equipment and more repeats, I feel that my results would or could be
flawless and highly accurate.

Overall, my experiments was well done and unforgettable and I feel I

achieved the values of effective communicator and empowered thinker.

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 Reference

ball and ramp. (2016). YouTube. Retrieved 12 September 2016, from https://youtu.be/
JEy7G1dfDkQ

IB Physics: Ball on a slope. (2016). Thinkib.net. Retrieved 12 September 2016, from http://
www.thinkib.net/physics/page/10090/ball-on-a-slope

Kinematics Experiment. (2016). YouTube. Retrieved 12 September 2016, from https://

youtu.be/R0ceUsV0NNA

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