SECTION I: INTRODUCTION

TITLE: Forces and Motion on Ramp

OBJECTIVE: This lab will be used to further our understanding of forces on
objects while on a ramp. Using a virtual simulation, we will be able to acomplish
this task.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED:
Computer
Internet
PROCEDURE:
1. Download the guide from: https://sites.google.com/a/westcta.ccsd.net/drviggato-p-e/home/classes/physics-i-honors/assignments-2014-2015
2. Use the guide to access the website and compete all steps and take notes
during the lab.

SECTION II: DATA

DATA TABLES:
All data tables that are needed have been placed in the results
CALCULATIONS:
All calculations have been included in the results
RESULTS:
The following will include the procedures and answers to the questions provided
in the lab. Some of the discoveries that I made include that there is a great amount
of force needed to initally move items, and less as the item moves faster. In
addition, I learned that more force is needed going up a ramp as gravity is acting
upon the object. The main source of error would be in calculations due to
rounding during the process. The only real way to improve this would be in real
life as the simulation is very accurate.
You will be starting with a crate that has a mass of 100 kg and a coefficient of sliding
friction of 0.3 and a coefficient of static friction of 0.5
1. Draw the Free Body Diagram (a picture showing the forces on the crate) before you
apply any force.

2. Add 10 N of applied force, and push the button and record what happens. Include a
free body diagram showing all the forces.
Nothing happens. Not enough force to push the crate.

3. Add 100 N of applied force and push the button. What changed?
Nothing has changed
4. Use the friction equation to calculate how much force would be required to get it
moving. Show your work here..... Try it out. What happened? How did you fix the
problem to get it moving?
F = ma
F = 100 9.8
F = 980
Fr = N
Fr = .5 980 N
480 N
I didnt work, but when we added 1 N, it moved

5. What happened as the crate moved up the ramp? Show the free body diagram while the
crate is on the ramp. What force is working against your applied force?
It slowed as it moved up the ramp.

Gravity is the force acting on the box.

6. Reset all. Predict what you think would happen if you increased the angle. What
actually happened? Explain why you saw what you saw.
I predict it will need more force to get it higher.

The higher the angle, the more forced required to get it higher.
This is because graving is increasing as the crate gets farther away from the ground.
7. Reset all. Predict what you think would happen if you decreased the angle. Try it out.
Why?
I predict that it would be easier
I was correct because gravity is not acting as much. Its the same principle as above, but
in reverse.
8. Place the crate on the ramp with the angle at 20o. What is true about the parallel force
and the friction force if the crate does not go down the ramp? Slowly increase the angle
until the block JUST starts to move. Use the angle to calculate s and compare to the
given value for s for the crate.
Both forces are acting opposite of each other, so the crate can not move at all.
249.1 = s 520
s = .49

9. Calculate how much force you would have to apply to the crate to get it to go at
constant speed up the 30o ramp. Show your work below and record your answer to the
tenth of a Newton (Hint: Remember its moving now, so which do you need to use?)
k=x/100 kg 9.81 m/s2
981 .3 = 294.3 N
10. Go to the Forces Graph tab. Reset all. Input your applied force and push play. Stop
the crate before it crashes into the wall. Is your net force = 0 (Fsum )? What does that tell
you about the motion of the crate?
The net force is not 0 as gravity is acting upon it. This means that the crate will move
when not enough force is applied.
11. Place the block at the top of the 30o ramp (Position = 8.9 m). What is the net force on
the block down the ramp? (Show your calculation below). What is the acceleration of the
block down the ramp? (Include in your calculation). What would be the final velocity of
the block at the bottom of the ramp?
Net force is 235.4 N as gravity is pulling on the object
234.4N = 100 a
a = 2.344 m/s^2
v = 11.72 m/s
12. What force is acting on the crate once it hits the flat part at the bottom of the ramp?
What is the magnitude and direction of that force?
Friction is acting on the create. 254.6 N to the right
13. What will be the acceleration of the crate on the flat part at the bottom of the ramp?
294 N = 100 a
2.94 m/s^2
14. Calculate how far the crate should slide at the bottom. Try it out. How did your
calculation compare to the applet result?
The crate should slide about 7 m, and I was correct.
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, I did reach my objective of gaining a greater understanding of
forces on a ramp. The simulation imitates real forces on Earth and is able to

provide more information than life. Changing the angle required more applied
force as gravity acted more upon the box. In addition, you need more force as you
get higher on steep ramps. Finally, I used equations in practice to understand what
was happening.