Tick, Tick, Tick – Motion Lab
Sci 10 - Weir
Names: _______________________________ Date: ______________ Block: _____
Mark: ______ / 34
In this lab you will be looking at two types of motion, uniform and non-uniform motion.
You will complete the lab over two days, starting with uniform motion today. At the end of
this lab you will have a better understanding of what different types of motion are and look
like on a graph.
To collect data for both uniform and non-uniform, you will be attaching a ticker tape to a
crash cart (a small cart with wheels). A ticker tape makes 60 dots per second on paper
as the cart pulls it through the ticker. If you count out 60 dots and measure the distance,
this gives you the distance travelled in one second.
Day 1 – Uniform Motion
- Attach a 3 meter length of “tape” to a crash cart and insert the tape into the ticker.
- Turn on the ticker.
- Accelerate the cart and then try to maintain a constant speed for 4-7 seconds (you
need a minimum of 5 seconds worth of data). Your hand should remain on the cart
the entire time.
- On the tape, mark every 60th dot and measure the distance for each 60 dots (this is
the distance that the cart travelled each second)
- Once the cart is accelerated from zero, the distance between the remaining points
should be similar.
- Record the cumulative distance (from start to the end of each second) in the table
below. [2 marks]
Time (s)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Distance (cm)
Day 2 – Non-Uniform Motion
-
You will set up your cart and ticker tape the same way you did for uniform motion.
However, in this data set, you will be trying to create non-uniform motion.
(minimum of 3 seconds worth of data)
You will create a ramp for your cart to accelerate down or you will try to constantly
vary your cart’s speed by pushing it faster and slower
Measure the distance between each set of 60 dots and record your data just like
you did yesterday.[2 marks]
Time (s)
Distance (cm)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Graphing: [10 marks]
- Once you are finished collecting both sets of data, create two graphs, one for each
set of data  Make sure your graph has all the necessary components!
- Be sure to include all the necessary labels and a proper scale that uses at least
75% of the graph paper.
Analysis: [20 marks] Do on a separate piece of paper and staple to your lab.
1. Interpret the uniform motion graph using the 5 questions we discussed in class.
[6 marks]
2. Interpret the non-uniform motion graph using the 5 questions we discussed in
class. [6 marks]
3. Calculate the average speed of your uniform motion and non-uniform motion
graphs. [4 marks]
4. From your uniform motion graph, calculate the instantaneous speed of your cart at
1.5 seconds. [2 marks]
5. Hand in your two ticker tapes. [2 marks]
Analysis Questions: [4 marks] Do on a separate piece of paper and staple to your lab.
1. Draw a very simple example of what uniform motion would look like a distance vs.
time graph and a speed vs. time graph. (2 marks)
2. If you were watching a kid ride his bicycle, explain what uniform and non-uniform
motion would look like. Try to use terms from this unit like distance travelled, time,
speed, acceleration, negative acceleration, etc. (2 marks)