I.
Purpose – Analyze the motion of an object that has been rolled down an inclined track and create a
comprehensive lab write-up in your journal that includes ALL SECTIONS listed below.
II.
Problem Statement – How does an inclined plane affect an object’s velocity and acceleration?
III.
Hypothesis – State what you think will happen to the speed and acceleration of a ball that is rolled
down an incline ramp.
IV.
Procedure – Read the following procedure steps and sketch two diagrams (including labels) for both
parts of your experiment of your lab in place of these written steps. You do not have to copy the
written steps below.
PART 1: Staircase Ramp Test
1. Use the lower level staircase handrail as a 5-meter ramp for a tennis ball motion test.
2. From the top of the rail mark off each meter with a small piece of masking tape (you should have
room for 5 meters)
3. Set the tennis ball on the top of the ramp and release it with no additional force. Let the ball roll
down the ramp.
4. Position a person with a stopwatch at each meter mark to record the time at each spot as the
tennis ball rolls down the runway.
5. Repeat the above steps to record 5 error-free trial runs
6. Calculate the average velocity and average acceleration of the tennis ball at each position on the
ramp.
PART 2: Classroom Runway Test
1. Set up a ramp on the classroom floor using a meter stick and a small stack of books.
2. Be sure to smooth the ramp transition to the floor with a piece of masking tape to blend the
surfaces.
3. On the floor, mark off 5 meters from the ramp with a small piece of masking tape at each meter.
Note: Begin with the 0 meter mark on the floor directly at the base of the ramp and count
up each additional meter up to 5 meters.
4. Set the golf ball on the top of the ramp and release it with no additional force. Let the ball roll
down the ramp and onto the floor.
5. Start the time once the golf ball hits the runway floor
6.
DO NOT START THE TIME ON THE RAMP!
7. Position a person with a stopwatch at each meter mark to record the time at each spot as the golf
ball rolls across the floor.
8. Repeat the above steps to record 5 error-free trial runs
9. Calculate the average velocity and average acceleration of the golf ball at each position on the
horizontal runway.
V.
Data Tables - Copy these charts into your lab write-up before you begin testing!
PART 1: STAIRCASE RAMP TEST
Distance Time
Time
Time
Time
Time
Average
(m)
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Time (s)
1 meter
2 meters
3 meters
4 meters
5 meters
Velocity
Acceleration
0m  1m
1m  2m
2m  3m
3m  4m
4m  5m
PART 2: CLASSROOM RUNWAY TEST
Distance Time
Time
Time
Time
Time
Average
(m)
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Time (s)
1 meter
2 meters
3 meters
4 meters
5 meters
Velocity
Acceleration
0m  1m
1m  2m
2m  3m
3m  4m
4m  5m
VI.
Graphs – Create the following LINE graphs for both data charts (4 graphs total). Your graphs
should be on graph paper and pasted into your journal write-up.
1. Distance vs. Time
2. Acceleration vs. Time.
Note: Be careful which units you put on the x or the y axis! Independent variable is on the
X axis, Dependent variable is on the Y axis)
VII.
Conclusion – Answer the following questions in your journal using COMPLETE SENTENCES.
1. If all changes in motion are the result of a force being applied to an object, then what force(s)
were acting on the ball in this experiment to change its motion?
2. What force caused the tennis ball to accelerate on the stairs?
3. What force caused the golf ball to roll to a stop on the floor?
4. What variables did you need in order to calculate the ball’s acceleration?
5. What physics vocabulary term does the plotted line in your distance vs. time graph represent?
6. Based on your graphs, did either ball ever move at a constant velocity? How do you know?
7. Based on your acceleration vs. time graph and observations in this lab, what happens to the
velocity of an object when it has constant force acting upon it? (ie. like in the stair rail test)
8. How could you change the experiment to make the ball accelerate faster?
9. How could you change the experiment to make the ball come to rest sooner?
10. So what? You just rolled a bunch of objects down a ramp. What real world comparisons can
you make to identify how this information could be used in our everyday life?
ACCELERATION HELP:
***See PPT Slide***
A = Change in V / t
Change in V = difference in velocity between meter marks
T = Difference in time between meter marks