Physical Science Lab Report
Name
Lab Partners
Lab Experiment
Lab Date
Acceleration vs. Ramp Angle
Block
Introduction: In this activity we are investigating the acceleration of a cart that is rolling down a ramp.
Variables:
Independent: none
Dependent: none
Constants: n/a
Experimental Group:
Control Group (if any): None
Hypothesis:
Materials: (What equipment and materials did you need for this lab assignment? List the name and amount of each item
used.)
Procedures:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Data:
TRIAL
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Set up the ramp as shown. Begin in hole 5 of the stand.
Mount photogate “A” at the 10cm (.1m) mark. Mount photogate “B” at the .70cm (.7m) mark.
Move the cart to the top of the ramp. Reset the timer and allow the cart to roll down the ramp.
Record the time through gate “A”, Time through gate “B”, and the total elapsed time “A,B”
Calculate the initial velocity of the cart. Vi= .05m/time through “A”.
Calculate the final velocity. Vf= .05m/time through “B”.
Calculate the acceleration using a= V f-Vi/total elapsed time. ( This is the acceleration equation)
Do steps 3 through 7, 6 more times.
Calculate your average acceleration for all 10 trials and record it on the data chart.
Show all calculations for each trial on a separate calculation page.*
Time
A (s)
Time
B
(s)
CART
WING (m)
Vi (m/s)
Vf (m/s)
TOTAL
ACCELERATION
ELAPSED
(m/s2)
TIME (S)
.05m
.05m
.05m
.05m
.05m
.05m
.05m
.05m
.05m
.05m
Average Acceleration
*
Analysis: (Must be in paragraph form and in your own words. Using your data and completed lab questions, discuss
what happened in the lab. Give details on anything that went wrong.)
Conclusion: (Must be in paragraph form and in your own words. Did your results support or refute your hypothesis?
What did you learn? What conclusions can you draw from the results of this lab assignment?)
CALCULATIONS:
TRIAL
1
2
3
4
5
6
Initial velocity
Final Velocity
Acceleration
7
8
9
10