Name
Date
Pd
Scientific Methods Measurement and Graphing Lab
Station 1: Pendulum
Problem: Determine the relationship between the length of a pendulum and the time it
takes the pendulum to make one back-and-forth swing.
The time it takes the pendulum to swing back and forth once is called the
period.
Time ten back-and-forth swings and then divide by 10 to get a more
accurate value for the period.
Do at least seven lengths from 10 cm to 100 cm.
Data (Create a data table and record your measurements here)
Graphing: The notes are for a different graphing program called Logger Pro. We are not
using that program. Your teacher will give other instructions as needed.
Use Capstone or Excel to graph your data. Label each axis and add units. Title the graph.
If the graph is not linear, make a test plot. From the Insert menu select Graph. Under the Page
menu Auto Arrange will organize the windows. From the Data menu select New Calculated
Column. Fill out the calculated column dialog box. Graph the test plot on the lower graph
window by clicking on the axis label and selecting the name of your calculated column.
Once you have a linear test plot, perform a linear fit to the data. Make sure all graphs are labeled
and titled, set print orientation to landscape, and put your name in the text box before printing.
©Modeling Instruction - AMTA 2013
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U1 Scientific Methods – Graphing Labs v3.1
Name
Date
Pd
Scientific Methods Measurement and Graphing Lab
Station 2: Cart rolling down a track
Problem: You will explore how the distance the cart rolls down an inclined ramp affects
the time it blocks a photogate.
Notice the plastic flag sticking up from the cart. The computer will time how long the photogate
is blocked by the flag.
Measure the rolling distances from the center of the cart (below the center of the flag) to the
photogate.
Use at least 8 different rolling distances. Try each rolling distance a few times to be sure your
results are consistent.
Data (Create a data table and record your measurements here)
Graphing: The notes are for a different graphing program called Logger Pro. We are not
using that program. Your teacher will give other instructions as needed.
Use Capstone or Excel to graph your data. Label each axis and add units. Title the graph.
If the graph is not linear, make a test plot. From the Insert menu select Graph. Under the Page
menu Auto Arrange will organize the windows. From the Data menu select New Calculated
Column. Fill out the calculated column dialog box. Graph the test plot on the lower graph
window by clicking on the axis label and selecting the name of your calculated column.
Once you have a linear test plot, perform a linear fit to the data. Make sure all graphs are labeled
and titled, set print orientation to landscape, and put your name in the text box before printing.
©Modeling Instruction - AMTA 2013
2
U1 Scientific Methods – Graphing Labs v3.1
Name
Date
Pd
Scientific Methods Measurement and Graphing Lab
Station 3: Dart Gun
Problem: You will try to find how the mass of the dart and load affects the height to which
the spring can propel it.
Find the mass of each dart/stopper to the nearest gram.
Perform multiple trials for each mass, since there will be some variation in the
height achieved by the dart on each trial.
BE CAREFUL NOT TO SHOOT YOURSELF IN THE FACE!
Data (Create a data table and record your measurements here)
Graphing: The notes are for a different graphing program called Logger Pro. We are not
using that program. Your teacher will give other instructions as needed.
Use Capstone or Excel to graph your data. Label each axis and add units. Title the graph.
If the graph is not linear, make a test plot. From the Insert menu select Graph. Under the Page
menu Auto Arrange will organize the windows. From the Data menu select New Calculated
Column. Fill out the calculated column dialog box. Graph the test plot on the lower graph
window by clicking on the axis label and selecting the name of your calculated column.
Once you have a linear test plot, perform a linear fit to the data. Make sure all graphs are labeled
and titled, set print orientation to landscape, and put your name in the text box before printing.
©Modeling Instruction - AMTA 2013
3
U1 Scientific Methods – Graphing Labs v3.1
Name
Date
Pd
Scientific Methods Measurement and Graphing Lab
Station 4: Ball and Ramp
Problem: Determine how the height affects the range for a marble released down a ramp.
ball
ramp
height
range
carbon paper
plain paper
stack of books
Always start the marble from the same point on the ramp.
Use at least five different heights. For each height do at least three trials.
To help you locate where the ball hits, tape a piece of paper to the table and lay a piece of carbon
paper over it. The marble will make a mark when it hits.
Data (Create a data table and record your measurements here)
Graphing: The notes are for a different graphing program called Logger Pro. We are not
using that program. Your teacher will give other instructions as needed.
Use Capstone or Excel to graph your data. Label each axis and add units. Title the graph.
If the graph is not linear, make a test plot. From the Insert menu select Graph. Under the Page
menu Auto Arrange will organize the windows. From the Data menu select New Calculated
Column. Fill out the calculated column dialog box. Graph the test plot on the lower graph
window by clicking on the axis label and selecting the name of your calculated column.
Once you have a linear test plot, perform a linear fit to the data. Make sure all graphs are labeled
and titled, set print orientation to landscape, and put your name in the text box before printing.
©Modeling Instruction - AMTA 2013
4
U1 Scientific Methods – Graphing Labs v3.1
Name
Date
Pd
Scientific Methods Measurement and Graphing Lab
Station 5: Ramp and Spring
Problem: You will try to find how the distance you compress the spring affects how far the
cart moves up the ramp.
Measure the spring compression from its uncompressed position to your release point. (Don't
compress the spring more than 4 cm.)
Measure the distance the cart travels from the compressed position of the spring to its highest
point on the track using the scale on the track.
Use at least 7 different spring compressions. Try each spring compression a few times to make
sure your results are repeatable.
Data (Create a data table and record your measurements here)
Graphing: The notes are for a different graphing program called Logger Pro. We are not
using that program. Your teacher will give other instructions as needed.
Use Capstone or Excel to graph your data. Label each axis and add units. Title the graph.
If the graph is not linear, make a test plot. From the Insert menu select Graph. Under the Page
menu Auto Arrange will organize the windows. From the Data menu select New Calculated
Column. Fill out the calculated column dialog box. Graph the test plot on the lower graph
window by clicking on the axis label and selecting the name of your calculated column.
Once you have a linear test plot, perform a linear fit to the data. Make sure all graphs are labeled
and titled, set print orientation to landscape, and put your name in the text box before printing.
©Modeling Instruction - AMTA 2013
5
U1 Scientific Methods – Graphing Labs v3.1
Questions that apply to every station
1. Based on your graph, describe the relationship between the independent and dependent
variables in words and mathematically.
2. Did you "connect the dots" on your graph? Why or why not?
3. How and why did you choose the scale you used for your graph?
4. Why is it important that the axes are labeled with both the quantity and its units?
5. Why did you plot the independent variable on the horizontal axis and dependent variable on
the vertical axis?
6. Did your graph go through the origin (0, 0)? Does this have any significance?
7. Describe measurement techniques you used to give you a more accurate result.
8. Why were you asked to repeat the procedure for at least seven different values of the
independent variable?
9. What is the advantage (or disadvantage) of increasing the independent variable in
approximately equal increments?
10. Quantitatively describe the limits to precision in your measurements. Was it due to the
measuring devices, your measurement technique, or something else?
11. Discuss possible sources of error in this experiment.
©Modeling Instruction - AMTA 2013
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U1 Scientific Methods – Graphing Labs v3.1