MOVING PLOT LAB

Torey Hilbert
Basil
Grace Bae
Block 4

Purpose
Use spark timer tape data to
construct Position vs. Time,
Velocity vs. tiem, and
Acceleration vs. Time grpahs for
the motion of a wind up toy car.

Materials

Wind up toy car

Spark timer
Spark timer tape (1m)
Masking tape
Meter stick
Graphical Analysis Program

Procedure

Test the toy car so that it stops within 1 meter

Attach the timer tape to the toy car
Put the timer tape through the spark timer
Pull the toy car
Turn on the spark timer
Let go of the toy car
Once the toy car comes to a stop, turn off the spark
timer and measure the distances of the dots
Put points in a data table and make graphs on
Analysis Program

Data
Time(s)

Distance
(cm)

Instantaneous
Velocity(cm/s)

0.0

0.00

----

0.1

2.67

30.31

0.2

5.85

32.62(+
acceleration)

0.3

9.35

33.65(+acceleratio

Time(s)

Displacement
(cm)

Instantaneous
Velocity
(cm/s)

1.4

41.15

17.13(acceleration)

1.5

42.75

13.86(acceleration)

n)

1.6
0.4

12.70

43.95

10.33(acceleration)

33.54(+
acceleration)

1.7
0.5

16.00

33.8

0.6

19.50

33.46

0.7

22.70

32.94

0.8

26.15

31.69

0.9

29.15

29.36 (acceleration)

1.0

32.00

27.17(acceleration)

1.1

34.55

25.17(acceleration)

1.2

37.00

23.40(acceleration)

44.75

7.62(acceleration)

1.8

45.50

4.74(acceleration)

1.9

0.00

-----

Data contd-position
vs. time

In the total distance vs. time graph, the car

ran at near constant velocity from .5s to .8s
Initial position:0cm
Final position: 45.50 cm
Initial time: 0s
Final time: 1.9 s
Slope during constant velocity: m=delta y/
delta x = (26.15-16.00)/(.8-.5)=33.83 cm/s

Data contd-Velocity vs.

time

The graph from .1s to .5s represents positive

acceleration
Initial velocity: 30.31cm/s = 0.3031m/s
Final velocity: 33.80cm/s = 0.3380m/s
Initial time: .1s
Final time: .5s
Average acceleration = change of
velocity/change of time = (0.3380-0.3031)/
(.4) = .0873 cm/s/s

Data contd-Velocity vs.

time
The

graph from .8s to 1.8s represents

negative acceleration
Initial velocity:31.69 cm/s=0.3169m/s
Final velocity:4.74cm/s=0.0474m/s
Initial time: .8s
Final time: 1.8s
Average acceleration = change of
velocity/change of time = (0.0474-0.3169)/.8
= -0.3369 cm/s/s

Graph

Initial position : 0cm

Initial time: 0s

Final
position:
45.50cm
Final time:
1.9s

Instantaneous Velocity vs.

Time
Average
speed=
24 cm/s

Acceleration (cm/s/s)

Acceleration vs. Time

3
0
1
5

15

.5

1.0

-30

Time (s)

1.
5

Model: Analysis of
Best-fit Equation
(Speeding up)
(Constant velocity)
Y=0.6429x2+33.12x Y=-1.250x2+35.28x1.298
-.6940

The slope has the

dimension of velocity.

(Slowing down)
Y=-14.53x2+57.59x11.01

Y-intercept should be
0 since the car has
not moved at 0
seconds.

Model: Transformation
into general formula
Y=.6429x2+33.12x-.6940
Y=-1.250x2+35.28x-1.298Y=-14.53x2+57.59x-11.01

D=1/2at2 + Vi (t)
The distance that the object traveles is
of acceleration times time sqared plus the
initial velocity times time

Error Analysis

The toy car may not have been pulled

back far enough before being released
so that when it was running, the tape
pulled the car and slowed it down
The spark timer may have been slightly
off

Conclusion

The car moved at relative constant

speed from .5 to .8 s.
The car sped up from .1s to .5 s
The car slowed down from .8 s to 1.8s
The car had a relatively constant
positive acceleration from .1s to .5
The car had a relatively constant
negative acceleration from .8 s to 1.8 s.

Conclusion

The car had zero acceleration from .5 s to .8 s

The car never had a negative velocity,
because it did not go backwards.
Speedav for entire trip = distance/time =
45.50cm/1.9s = 24 cm/s = 0.24m/s
The car moved faster than the average speed
from .1 s to 1.1 s.
The car moved slower than the average
speed from 1.2s to 1.8s