Regents Physics lab – (name)_______________________ 2012-2013
Title : Linear motion of “Dominos” falling:
Theory: When dominoes are set up on a level table and then toppled, the motion is reasonably
consistent so that the speed can be measured with a meter stick and a stopwatch. In general the
speed of anything moving is a ratio of distance traveled to time it takes to travel that distance.
Since dominoes can be spaced at intervals differently, the speed at which the dominoes will far
can vary as a function of the distance apart. In this lab, we conduct several experimental trials to
test the effect of separation distance on the speed of the motion. We then graph speed of the
motion vs. separation distance.
Speed of the motion in all trials is determined
by measuring the overall length of the
dominoes in row ( marked “length” in the
table) and then dividing my how long it takes
to travel that length ( marked “time” in the
table) Separation distance is measured by
taking the overall length and dividing by 27.
This is because each box has 28 dominoes so there are 27
spaces between them.
Data:
Trial Length Separation Time
Speed
( cm)
(sec)
(cm/sec
1
33
1.2 0.268889
122.7273
2
45
1.7
0.5
90
3
68
2.5 1.141728
59.55882
4
54
2.0
0.72
75
5
87
3.2 1.868889
46.55172
6
99
3.7
2.42
40.90909
7
106
3.9 2.774321
38.20755
8
73
2.7 1.315802
55.47945
( in general when there is ability to make a reference table, You should make a table. Make sure
you put units on your values.)
Friday, September 14, 2012
page 1
Mr. Hendricks
Regents Physics lab – (name)_______________________ 2012-2013
Analysis:
Speed (cm/sec)
As the separation between
dominos got smaller, it took less
time for the motion to reach the
next domino in line. This is why
the speed is faster with smaller
separation distance.
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
Average separation distance (cm)
Conclusions: this lab was to demonstrate a simple motion in one dimension.
Dominoes were used because they are measureable and slow moving over relative
short distance. The concept of velocity being distance over time was
demonstrated.
Other key concepts such as instantaneous velocity could also be seen because the
velocity could have varied somewhat as dominos were placed. It would have been
nearly impossible to make them exactly evenly spaced and we didn’t have to space
them perfectly if we just use average velocity.
Instantaneous velocity between any two dominos was likely to show slight
variation.
Friday, September 14, 2012
page 2
Mr. Hendricks
4.0