Experiment 3 Motion Analysis

Equipment
Vernier Motion Detector, Vernier Lab Pro computer interface, track, cart with
spring-loaded plunger, LoggerPro software, computer

Introduction
In this lab we use a motion detector to graph the motion of a cart rolling down an
inclined track and bouncing off the end of the track. We use the resulting graph to
illustrate the relationship of change in position with velocity, the relationship of
change of velocity to acceleration and the cause of acceleration (net force). These
relationships are given by the equation of kinematics below, but the graphical
techniques used in this experiment illustrate the meaning of these equations. The
first three equations are kinematic equations (that describe motion), the last
equation is Newtons second law equation of motion (which is an equation of
dynamics).

1
x x0 vx 0t axt 2 (1)
2
vx vx 0 axt (2)
vx2 vx20 2ax ( x x0 ) (3)
Fx
ax (4)
m
1. Set the motion detector to cart mode and the sample collection to 40/sec for 5
seconds.

2. Set the track at an angle between 10 - 15. Hold the cart still with the plate at
the 0.80 m mark on the ramp ruler. Start the motion detection data collection (fast
clicking), then let go of the cart by quickly pulling the finger down the ramp .

3. Let the cart bounce (plunger against the rubber knob) until it comes to rest.
Select Auto-scaling to show more detail in the resulting trace of position versus
time and velocity versus time.

4. Print the graph in landscape mode on a single sheet. When answering questions
below, make use of the software utility that identifies coordinates of cursor, as well
as the link between data columns (t , x, v, a) just to the left of graphs. To turn on this
link, press the icon to Examine data.
I. Cart falling down the ramp before the bounce

A. Looking at the generated graphs of distance, velocity, and acceleration vs time,

record the following information as the cart was first traveling down the ramp.
Indicate each on each graph.

(a) Time, position, and velocity when the acceleration first began increasing as
you let go;

(b) Time, position, velocity, and acceleration when the acceleration became
constant; (Ignore noise.)

(c) Time, position, velocity, and acceleration when the acceleration began
decreasing as the plunger first hit the rubber knob.

B. Now answer the following questions:

d. What is the direction of positive acceleration, velocity, an d position from

detector?

e. Why is the velocity so small at (b) while the acceleration is at a maximum?

f. What influences (forces) (include directions) contribute to the acceleration

between (b) and (c)?

II. Cart bouncing off the rubber knob

A. Looking at the generated graphs of distance, velocity, and acceleration vs time,

record the following information as the cart was bouncing off the knob. Indicate
each on each graph.

(a) Time, position, velocity, and acceleration whe n the acceleration began
decreasing as the plunger first hit the rubber knob. (Same as 1 (c) above.)

(b) Two times, positions, and velocities when the acceleration is zero but the
velocity is not;

(c) Time, position, velocity, and acceleration when the acceleration is at a

maximum up the ramp.

B. Now answer the following questions:

d. What influences (forces) (include directions) contributed to the acceleration

during the bounce?
 e. If the acceleration due to gravity were zero, what would be the direction of
the acceleration due to the rubber knob pushing on the cart plunger?

f. How can the carts acceleration go to zero (b) while the velocity is not zero?

g. How can the carts acceleration be maximum and negative at (c) while the
velocity is zero?

III. Cart moving up and down the ramp after the first bounce

A. Looking at the generated graphs of distance, velocity, and acceleration vs time,

record the following information as the cart moves up and down the ramp. Indicate
each on each graph.

(a) Time, position, velocity, and acceleration when the acceleration became
constant after the bounce.

(b) Time, position, velocity, and acceleration as the cart reaches its maximum
position up the ramp.

(c) Time, position, velocity, and acceleration when the acceleration begins
decreasing again due to the plunger touching the rubber knob again.

B. Now answer the following questions:

d. Give the direction of the acceleration and velocity of the cart as it moves up
the ramp.

e. What happens to the carts velocity as it is accelerated down the ramp while
traveling up?

f. What influences (forces) (include directions) contributed to the acceleration

from (a) to (b), and from (b) to (c)?

g. Why is the change in velocity somewhat constant as the cart goes up and
down the ramp?

h. How can the velocity be zero at (b) when the acceleration is not zero?