ANALYSIS

Kinematics is the branch of classical mechanics which describes the motion

of points, bodies and systems of bodies without consideration of the causes of
motion. In this experiment, we’ve conducted the simplest kind of motion: (a) The
motion of a particle in a straight line, and (b) The motion is said to be one-
dimensional. It can be describe in terms of space and time.

The motion of the object in kinematics is represented by a particle. In one

dimensional motion, the particle can be considered moving along the x-axis with a
position that can be described at all times. Let the origin be the particle`s initial
position, X 0 at the initial time t 0, after a time interval t, the particle is now at point
X. Instantaneous velocity of the particle is equal to the instantaneous rate of
change of position with time.

To compute for the Instantaneous Velocity of the Particle, rate

of change of position is needed and it is what we call displacement.
Instantaneous velocity of a particle is equal to the instantaneous rate
of change of position with time. Let the initial position and time of the particle
have a subscript of 0.

∆ x dx x2 −x1
v x = lim = =
∆ f →0 ∆ t dt y2 − y 1

(Equation 1: Instantaneous ‘Velocity’ of the Particle)

 As for the Instantaneous Acceleration of the Particle, it is equal to rate of
change of velocity with time. When the velocity of the particle changes at the
same rate, the motion is said to be uniformly accelerated with
acceleration. The instantaneous acceleration of the particle is the limit of the
average acceleration as time interval approaches zero.

∆vx d vx
a x = lim =
∆ f →0 ∆t dt

(Equation 2: Instantaneous ‘Acceleration’ of the Particle)

By integration, new equations can be formed. These new equations are

called Constant Acceleration Equations. These are: (a) Velocity as a
Function of Time, (b) Position as a Function of Time, and (c) Velocity as a
function of position.

Integrating Equation 2: Instantaneous Acceleration of the Particle, and if v 0

and t 0=0 are initial velocity and time, the change in velocity is the integral of
acceleration with respect to time,
v t

∫ dv=∫ adt
v0 0

V | v =a [ t ] t ; v−v o=at
vo 0

v=v 0 + at

(Equation 3: Velocity as a Function of Time)

Integrating equation 1 (with x 0 and t 0=0 as initial values) gives an expression

for the change in position as the time integral of velocity.
x t t

∫ dx=∫ vdt=¿ ∫ ( v 0 +at ) dt ¿

x0 0 0

1
x−x 0=v 0 t + a t 2
2

1
x=x 0 +v 0 t + a t 2
2

(Equation 4: Position as a Function of time)

The change in velocity is the integral of acceleration with respect to position.

v x

∫ vdv=a∫ dx
v0 x0

1 2
( v −v 02 ) =a ( x−x 0 )
2

v 2=v 02 +2 a( x−x 0 )

(Equation 5: Velocity as a Function of Position)

 a=g sin θ

mg
θ

(Figure 1)

When an object at rest is on an inclined plane, (assumed that it is

frictionless), its speed is uniform. But if the track is inclined at an angle θ, its
motion is uniformly accelerated. The acceleration is equal to the component of g,
parallel to the inclined track. See Figure 1 for guidance.

a
g=
sin θ

(Equation 6)

Where:
a = Acceleration
g=9.8 m/s 2
θ=inclination

If the body is dropped freely, its acceleration is equal to the gravitational

pull near earth’s surface.

a=g
 The Experiment 102: Kinematics has three parts: (a) Determination of the
Average Velocity of Dynamics Cart, (b) Determining Acceleration Due to Gravity
Using Cart’s Acceleration, and (c) Determining Acceleration Due to Gravity Using
Picket Fence and Smart Timer. This are the materials used in the experiment: (1)
Dynamic Cart, (2) Dynamics Track w/ Angle Indicator and End Stop, (3)
Photogate, (4) Smart Timer Picket Fence, (5) Meter Stick, and (6) Stand. These
materials are shown in Figure 2.

(Figure 2: Materials for the Experiment)

In Part A: Determination of the Average Velocity of a Dynamic Cart,

we’ve followed 15 procedures.

1. Place the track on the table with the end stop positioned at 118cm mark. (We
placed the track on the floor for convenience of the group).
2. Level the track by placing the cart on it and observe which way it will go.
Adjust the levelling feet until the cart becomes stationary on the track.
3. Attach the picket fence to the cart.
4. Set photogate 1 through the photogate mounting bracket at 25cm mark and
photogate 2 at 65cm mark to the track respectively.
5. Adjust the height of the photogates so that the picket fence will block the
photogate beams. See to it that both gates are properly attached to make the
beam perpendicular to cart’s line of travel to minimize error.
6. Connect to the phone plug of photogate 1 to channel 1 and phone plug 2 to
channel 2 of the smart timer respectively.
7. Set the mode of the smart timer to measure TIME, TWO GATES.

8. Press button 3 of the timer to restart.

9. Cock the spring plunger of the cart by pushing it in and slightly upward to
notch on the bar plunger.
10. Place the cart at 0cm end and launch by pressing the trigger.
11. Take the reading on the timer and record this as time interval for trial 1.
12. Compute the displacement. ¿); (IN THE DATA SHEET)
13. Repeat steps 8-12, with 5 trials adjusting the photogate by 2cm-10cm.
14. Compute the cart’s average speed using eqn. 1. (IN THE DATA SHEET)
15. Plot the graph of the data gathered with the displacement against time and
interpret the curve obtained. Use the space provided after the procedures.

1.2

1
2.0660s

1.7508s
0.8

1.3952s
TIME (s)

0.6
1.3114s
0.8900s
0.4

0.2

0
40 cm 50 cm 60 cm 70 cm 80 cm
DISPLACEMENT (cm)
Trial Position of Cart`s Time (t) Average
photogate 2 Displacement (Timer`s speed
( X f ) in cm ( ∆ X= X f −X 0 ) in Rdg) in s X
v́= in cm/s
t
cm
1 65 40 0.8900 44.9438
2 75 50 1.3114 38.1272
3 85 60 1.3952 43.0046
4 95 70 1.7508 39.9817
5 105 80 2.0660 38.7222

In the trial 1 we get a time of 0.8900s with a displacement of 40cm, in trial 2

we get a time of 1.3114s with a displacement of 50cm, in trial 3 we get a time of
1.3952s with a displacement of 60 cm, in trial 4 we get a time of 1.7508s , and in
trial 5 we get a total time of 2.0660s and with a displacement of 80 cm. the result
shows us that in every displacement is getting far from the starting point the time
will also increase which is very true. If the distance is very far from the starting
point it will have a time that is slower rather than with a cart whose displacement is
not for from the starting point. For short as the displacement increases the time also
increases.

In Part B: Determining Acceleration Due to Gravity Using Cart’s

Acceleration, our group followed 11 procedures:

1. Set-up the track with 0cm end elevating using a stand.

2. Adjust the Height (5cm initial).
3. Position photogate 1.
4. Press button 3 to restart the timer.

5. Compute track inclination.

6. Place the cart with the picket fence on it at the higher end of the track and
record its initial position.
7. Release the cart from rest.
8. Repeat steps 4-7. (5 trials increasing the height by 2cm)

9. Compute the Carts displacement. (IN THE DATA SHEET)

10. Compare the average experimental value of g, to its actual value. Solve for
percentage Error. (IN THE DATA SHEET)
 11. Plot a graph. (Acceleration along y-axis against sin θ along x-axis).

1.8

1.6

1.4

1.2

1
TIME (s)

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
5 cm 7 cm 9 cm 11 cm 13 cm
HEIGHT OF TRACH (cm)

Trial Height of Acceleration H a

sin ∅= g= in ( Time= √ 2 X
L sin ∅ a
track (H) (a)
cm/ s2 ¿ in (s)
in (cm) (Timer`s Rdg)
cm/ s2
1 5 38.3 0.05234 731.75 2.3192
2 7 49.0 0.06105 802.62 2.0504
3 9 68.7 0.06976 984.80 1.7316
4 11 86.1 0.08716 987.83 1.5468
5 13 99.8 0.09585 1041.2102 1.4367
 In the trial 1 we get an acceleration of 38.3 cm/s^2 with a height of 5 cm and
a time of 2.3192s, in trial 2 we get an acceleration of 49.0 cm/s^2 with a height of
7 cm and a time of 2.0504s, in trial 3 we get an acceleration of 68.7 cm/s^2 with a
height of 9cm and a time of 1.7316s, in trial 4 we get an acceleration of
86.1cm/s^2 with a height of 11cm and a time of 1.5468s , and in trial 5 we get an
acceleration of 99.8 cm/s^2 with a height of 13cm and a time of 1.4367s. In the
result, we can see that if the height is being increase the acceleration and the time
will also increase which is true. Because gravitation can affect the acceleration and
the time of the cart, if the height is high it will get a fast time and acceleration. The
percent error for this part is 0.099%.

Average g=(731.75+802.62+984.80+ 987.83+1041.21)/5

Average g=989.64 cm/ s 2

Percent error=|989.64−980
980 |x 100
Percent error=3.81 %

In Part C: Determining Acceleration Due to Gravity Using Picket Fence

and Smart Timer, our group followed 7 procedures:

1. Set the photogate horizontally.

2. With one photogate connected to the timer, set the mode of the timer to
ACCEL, ONE GATE.
3. Press button 3 of the timer to restart.
4. Drop the picket fence vertically within the photogate.
5. Take the reading on the timer record it as acceleration a.
6. Repeat procedures 3-5. (Performed 5 trials).
 7. Compute and compare the average acceleration. (DATA SHEET)

Trial 1 2 3 4 5 Average %Error

Acceleratio 694.9 1016.3 946.3 1046.1 1016.6 944.04 3.81%
n

The result shows us that the gravity can affect the acceleration of one object.
The higher the object the fastest acceleration will get.

Percent error= |944.04−980

980 |x 100
Percent error=3.81 %
CONCLUSION

I know now how to study motion by determining the velocity and acceleration.
Playing with the distance and the time needed to traverse it, speed was measured,
but since distance has a direction which makes it a displacement, then velocity was
measured. Also, acceleration was analyzed well, on how gravity affects a particular
object depending also on the inclination of a given plane. It was then concluded
that displacement is directly proportional to time and the inclination is also directly
proportional to the object's acceleration. Computing from the value of acceleration
measured against the slope of the inclined track, I know now how to get the
experimental value of g and then later compare it with the true value of g for
accuracy. With the equation a = g sin(θ), it was possible to determine experimental
g. It also shows that there has to be consistency or as little discrepancy as possible
when computing for the values of the acceleration due to gravity.Considering that
displacement is directly proportional to the time needed to traverse the length, and
that the inclination of a plane is directly proportional to the acceleration of an
object, a straight slide is a simple example of the demonstration of velocity and
acceleration. On the playground, or an inflatable one used in landing passengers
from an airplane, a slide is an inclined plane, and anything that goes down along its
length is partly affected by the acceleration due to gravity, and partly by its mass,
which exerts a corresponding amount of force. As demonstrated in the inclination
of the track, a steeper slide is, however, more risky because it involves a steeper
angle on which an object has to go through, and it also heightens the acceleration
due to gravity, and if not controlled or stopped properly, [entropy might cause it] to
disintegrate or the formation can be compromised because of the random scattering
of energy causing an object to be disfigured.