Constant Velocity Lab: Smart Cars
Record names of your group members according to their jobs during the lab:
Chromebook Operator: _____________________________________________
Data Recorder: __________________________________________________
Smart Car Operator: _____________________________________________
Calculator Operator: _______________________________________________
Purpose
The purpose of the lab is to examine the motion of the Smart Car.
Students should be able to:
Measure the position of the car with respect to time
Create a position vs. time graph for the car
Develop a mathematical model for the motion of the car
Materials
Smart Car
Smart Track (2m)
Chromebook with Smart Vue App
Procedure
Set up the Smart Vue App following Spark Vue Position vs Time Lab Set Up
Part 1
1. Set the Smart Car plunger to 1.
2. Place it on the starting position and reset the sensors.
3. Press start on the Chromebook and immediately and gently press the plunger button.
4. Once the SmartCar reaches the 1.5 m mark, record the time from the graph.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 2 more times, then calculate the average time.
Part 2
6. Set the Smart Car plunger to 2.
7. Repeat steps 2-5 from part 1.
Part 3
9. Set the Smart Car plunger to 3.
10. Repeat steps 2-5 from part 1.
11. Create a position- time graph for the averages. Don’t forget a key.
Data
Plunger 1
Time (s)
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
Position (m)
Position (m)
Position (m)
Position (m)
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
Plunger 2
Time (s)
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
Position (m)
Position (m)
Position (m)
Position (m)
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
Plunger 3
Time (s)
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
Position (m)
Position (m)
Position (m)
Position (m)
Graphing
1.
2.
3.
4.
Create one graph and plot all your data points (you should have two or three lines).
Use different colored pencils for each of the three parts.
Draw a line of best fit for each of your data sets.
A complete graph includes:
title
x and y variables and units (time on the x-axis and position on the y-axis)
scale
line(s) of best fit
5. Calculate the slope of each line.
6. Record the slope of all three parts using the coordinating colored pencil from your graph.
Analysis Questions
Refer to your graphs from part 1 and 2 to answer the following questions.
1. Do your data points fall in a somewhat-straight line?
2. What physical quantity is represented by the slope of the line?
3. How does the slope of line 1, line 2 and line 3 compare? What does that really mean?
4. Is the velocity of the car constant or not constant? How do you know?
5. How would you recognize a graph of an object traveling at a constant velocity?
6. List any factors that may have contributed to sources of error in this lab.
7. What is the reason for doing the experiment with multiple trials? Why not let the car run one time and record
the time?