Autumn Jones

November 16, 2012

Chapter 2 Lab Report

Objective: During this lab, we had to determine how the height of a ramp affects
the distance a toy car travels after going down the ramp.

Procedure: The whole process was building up height out of textbooks and then
sending a Hot Wheels car down a ramp. We did about four trials for each height,
and extras depending on if the car curved. The height of the books was always
measured before the trials. The car was always released from the same spot on the
ramp. After letting go, being careful not to push the car, the distance is measured in
centimeters from the front of the books to the back of the car. All the trials were
then averaged at the end and put into scatter plots.

Materials: Paper, pencil, graph paper, small toy car, books, ramp, ruler, tape
measure

Comparisons: The best fitted line for each set of data is fairly similar. The line
goes up the same way, but of course, the points are very different. There are plenty
of ways that the trials for each group could be so different. The point at which the
car is released isnt the same for each group, some cars tended to curve, and some
groups had to convert their data from inches to centimeters.

Data Table:
Ramp
Height
5.5

Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 3

Trial 4

Mean

93.9

78.7

90.9

90.9

88.6

10

188.9

208.7

197.1

210.8

201.3

14

338.3

341.4

336.6

342.9

339.8

16.5

372.4

376.7

366.3

364.5

349.9

18

414.5

374.6

411.7

375.92

394.2

My Groups Scatter Plot:

Distance Traveled Down Ramp

20
15
Height of Ramp (cm)

10
5
0
50 100150200250300350400450
Average Distance Rolled (cm)

Class Scatter Plot:

Distances Traveled By Numerous Cars Down Ramps

800
700
600
500
Average Distance Traveled (cm)

400
300
200
100
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Height of Ramp (cm)

Calculations:
y= 305.6 (5.5) + b
12.5
88.6= 134 + b
88.6= 134 + b
-134 -134
-45.9= b
y= 305.6 x 45.9
12.5
The rate of change is 305.6 and is the coefficient of x.
12.5
The y-intercept is the ramp height.