RMIT University

MANU2228_17s2-Engineering
Science

Lab 1-Kinematics

Student Name: Le Trung Kim – s3634824

Lecture: Ilya Kavalchuk

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Table of Contents
AIM of THE LAB...........................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
PRE-LAB QUESTION....................................................................................................................3
DATA ANALYSIS.........................................................................................................................4
1. Sketch Graphs of Data..............................................................................................................4
2. Calculation................................................................................................................................5
2.1. Acceleration from Graphs.................................................................................................5
2.2. Average Acceleration........................................................................................................6
2.3. Theoretical Acceleration...................................................................................................8
2.4. Difference in Percentage...................................................................................................9
3. Data Table.................................................................................................................................10
4. Answer the Questions...............................................................................................................10
CONCLUSION...............................................................................................................................11
APPENDIX 1..................................................................................................................................12
REFERENCE..................................................................................................................................13

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AIM OF THE LAB
In this lab activity, we are going to investigate the relationship between position,
velocity, and acceleration through real experiment.

INTRODUCTION
In order to understand the relationship between position, velocity, and acceleration,
we setup an experiment and record the data. By analysing and comparing the data,
we would be able to find out the connection between position, velocity, and
acceleration. In the end, we will be able to review the knowledge that we have
learnt from the course and understand wisely about the relationship between three
variables.

PRE-LAB QUESTION
Discuss impact of the angle on the acceleration. If we increase the angle,
how the acceleration will change? Why?

We have a=
∑F (Newton’s second law),
m
where a is the acceleration, ∑ F (net
force) is the total force acts on the object,
and m is the mass of the object. From the
free body diagram on the inclined plane
beside, we can rewrite the function as
F ∥+ F ⊥ + N + f
a= . In this case, the sum of
m
the normal force N and the perpendicular force F ⊥ is 0 (Newton’s second law); we
F ∥ mg sin θ
ignore the friction force f so the acceleration a= = =g sin θ, which will be
m m
used later to calculate theoretical acceleration of the cart [1]. So, the acceleration is
directly proportional to the angle.

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DATA ANALYSIS
1.2 1.
f(x) = 0 x² − 0.03 x + 1.02
1.
1 f(x)
f(x) == 00 x²
x² −− 0.02
0.02 xx ++ 11.01 1.
1.
0.8 1.
1.
Position (m)

0.6
1.
1.
0.4
1.
1.
0.2
1.
0
1.
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 1.
Time (s) 1.
1.
S
ketch Graphs of Data

Position versus Time Graph

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 : Run 1 - 20 °

: Run 2 - 15 °

: Run 3 - 5 °

Question 1: All runs are added to one graph for better comparing the data. The
graph describes the position of the cart over time, from the beginning when the cart
starts to move until it returns to the initial position for the first time. From the
graph, we see that the distance begin as maximum and decrease as the cart moves
up the inclined plane then increase again as it moves down, because the motion
sensor detect the distance between it and the cart, not the distance between the cart
and its initial position. We can also understand that the graph shows us the average
velocity of the cart.
f(x) = 0 1.5
f(x) = 0.02 x − 0.98

0.5
Velocity (m/s)

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

-0.5

-1

-1.5

Time (s)

Velocity
versus Time Graph

: Run 1 - 20 °

: Run 2 - 15 °

: Run 3 - 5 °

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Question 2: All runs are added to one graph as same as the position versus time
graph. The graph only shows part of the motion. The purpose of drawing this graph
is to show the difference between slopes of each run, in order to see the impact of
angle on the motion. Velocity of the carts increase as it goes up and goes down the
inclined planed.

2. Calculation
2.1. Acceleration from Graphs

Since the slopes also represent the acceleration, we can find the acceleration
from linear equation that shown on velocity versus time graph:
y=mx+b

m=a

Where a is the acceleration measure in m/s 2.

Run 1: y=3.2906 x−4.8416

a 1=m=3.29 m/s 2

Run 2: y=2.5632 x−4.0459

a 2=m=2.56 m/s 2

Run 3: y=0.8848 x−2.1141

a 3=m=0.88 m/s 2

Results:

a 1=3.29 m/s2

a 2=2.56 m/s 2

a 3=0.88 m/s 2

2.2. Average Acceleration

The equation to find average acceleration:

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 v f −vi
a v=
t f −t i

Where:
a v is the average acceleration measure in m/s 2.

v f is the final velocity measure in m/s .

vi is the initial velocity measure in m/s .

t f is the final time measure in s.

t i is the initial time measure in s.[2]

For this function, we choose two random points from the slope to represent
velocity and time.

Run 1: x=1.5 s , x =1.7 s

y=3.2906 x−4.8416

y=0.09 m/ s(x=1.5 s)

y=0.75 m/ s( x=1.7 s)

0.75−0.09
⇒ a v 1= =3.3 m/ s2
1.7−1.5

Run 2: x=1.6 s , x=1.9 s

y=2.5632 x−4.0459

y=0.055 m/ s( x=1.6 s)

y=0.82m/ s( x=1.9 s)

0.82−0.065
⇒ a v 3= =2.55 m/ s2
1.9−1.6

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Run 3: x=2.5 s , x=3 s

y=0.8848 x−2.1141

y=0.098 m/ s(x=2.5 s)

y=0.54 m/s ( x=3 s )

0.54−0.098
⇒ a v 4= =0.88 m/ s2
3−2.5

Results:
a v 1=3.3 m/s2

a v 2=2.55 m/s2

a v 3=0.88 m/s 2

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2.3. Theoretical Acceleration

As the friction is ignored, the theoretical acceleration can be calculated as the

following function:
a=g sin θ

Where a is the acceleration measure in m/s 2, g is the constant for acceleration

due to gravity, θ is the angle of the inclined plane.

We have:

Run 1: θ=20°
⇒ a 1=9.8 sin 20 °

⇒ a 1=3.35 m/s 2

Run 2: θ=15°
⇒ a 2=9.8 sin 15 °

⇒ a 2=2.54 m/s 2

Run 3: θ=5°
⇒ a 3=9.8 sin 5 °

⇒ a 3=0.85 m/s 2

Result:

a 1=3.35 m/ s2

a 2=2.54 m/s 2

a 3=0.85 m/s 2

2.4. Difference in Percentage

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To find the difference in percentage between the theoretical acceleration and the
graphical acceleration, we use the following equation:

|atheoretical −a graphical|
Difference= ×100 %
atheoretical

Run 1: a theoretical=3.35 m/s 2 , agraphical =3.29 m/s 2

|3.35−3.29|
Difference= × 100 %=1.79 %
3.35

Run 2: a theoretical=2.54 m/s2 , a graphical =2.56 m/s2

|2.54−2.56|
Difference= ×100 %=0.79%
2.54

Run 3: a theoretical=0.85 m/ s2 , agraphical =0.88 m/ s2

|0.85−0.88|
Difference= ×100 %=3.5 %
0.85

Results:

Run 1:1.18 %

Run 2:1.79 %

Run 3:0.79 %

Run 4: 3.5 %

3. Data Table

Slope Theoretical Acceleration, Acceleration, Difference, %

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 Acceleration, from Graph, Average, m/s2
m/s2 m/s2
Slope 1: 20 ° 3.35 m/s 2 3.29 m/s 2 3.3 m/s 2 1.79 %
Slope 2: 15 ° 2.54 m/ s2 2.56 m/s 2 2.55 m/s 2 0.79 %
Slope 3: 5 ° 0.85 m/s 2 0.88 m/s 2 0.88 m/s 2 3.5 %

4. Answer The Questions

Question 3: Describe the acceleration versus time plot of the Graph display.
Example:

Run 2
5

3
Acceleration (m/s2)

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
-1

-2

-3

Time (s)

Acceleration versus Time Graph

As we ignore the friction, the acceleration of the cart in this run is constant
in the whole motion when it moves up and moves down the inclined plane.
Since there are no other force than the one that we apply on the cart at the
beginning of the motion, the graph describes exactly the acceleration of the
cart. In the velocity versus time graph, all runs are presented as a straight
line which proves that the velocity of the cart increase constantly over time.
This reason also proves that the acceleration remains constant over time.

Question 4: How does the acceleration determined in the plot of velocity

compare to the average value of acceleration from the plot of acceleration?

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 From our calculation results that shown on data table, the acceleration
determined in the plot of velocity is the same as the average value of
acceleration from the plot of acceleration. For example: in run 1, the
acceleration from the velocity versus time graph and the average
acceleration are both 1.68 m/s 2.

CONCLUSION
From the experiment and our analysis data, we conclude:
 The acceleration of an object is the change in velocity over the change in
time:
∆v dv
a= ∨a=
∆t dt
 The velocity of an object is the change in position over the change in time:
∆x dx
v= ∨v=
∆t dt
 From the above conclusion, we can also form an equation that shows the
relationship between acceleration and displacement[3]:
d dx d 2 x
a= =
dt dt dt2

When the friction is ignored, the acceleration is constant in this motion.

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Appendix 1
Risk Task Name: Lab activity 1:
Assesment Kinematic
Assessor(s): Le Trung Kim 29/6/2017
Those at People in lab
risk:
Risk: Low
Process/Job Working in the
Description: lab
Task Hazards Controls Already In Place Action (Hierarchy of Control)
Sparklink Air Electric shock Special manual handling PPE
equipment Engineering
Protective casing
Wear closed toe shoes and
focus on performing
Spark Element Electric shock Special manual handling PPE
equipment Engineering
Protective casing
Wear closed toe shoes and
focus on performing
PASPORT Motion Manual Manual handling PPE
Sensor Handling Wear closed toe shoes and Engineering
Easy to be focus on performing
broken
1.2 m PASCO Sharp edge Manual handling PPE
Track Manual Engineering
Handling

GOcar Manual Manual handling PPE

Handling Pay close attention Engineering
Easy to be
broken
Books Manual Manual handling PPE
Handling Pay close attention Engineering
Heavy object

Run Experiment Electric shock Special manual handling PPE

Sharp edge equipment Engineering
Manual Protective casing
Handling Wear closed toe shoes and
focus on performing
Equipment Setup Sharp edge Manual handling PPE
Manual Wear closed toe shoes and Engineering
Handling focus on performing

Action (Hierarchy of Control): Elimination, Substitution, Isolation, Engineering, Administration, Personal

Protective Equipment
Reference
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[1] (2017, 11 July). Khan Academy. Available:
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/forces-newtons-laws/inclined-planes-
friction/a/what-are-inclines
[2] (2017, 11 July). Average Acceleration Formula | Formula for Average Acceleration |
Formulas@TutorVista.com. Available: http://formulas.tutorvista.com/physics/average-
acceleration-formula.html
[3] (2017, 11 July). Variable Acceleration Motion. Available: http://hyperphysics.phy-
astr.gsu.edu/hbase/avari.html

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