Average Speed of a Constant Velocity Vehicle Lab

The purpose of this lab is to calculate the speed of a constant velocity

vehicle (CVV), to develop skills in precision and accuracy, data
collection and calculations related to average speed. A constant velocity
vehicle is a car that mechanically maintains the same speed

Primary Learning Outcome

Students will understand the concept of speed and how to calculate
average speed, and they will understand the importance of accuracy in
data collection.
Materials per group
Data table (attached)
Stopwatch
CVV
Meter stick
Masking tape
Procedure
• Place 4 pieces of tape on the table/floor each 15 cm apart. Your
first tape is the starting line.

• Start the car behind the starting line. Time begins as car crosses
front of tape and ends when car crosses front of the next tape. You
should have one team member measuring time and saying it aloud
and another team member recording that time on the table. You
should have 3 different times by the end of your first trial.

• Do 3 practice runs to make sure timing is accurate and precise.













 • Record time data, and repeat for each trial.

• Calculate the speed for each trial and the average speed of all three
trials.

• Complete the calculations on the data sheet.

Trial Time when car Time when car Time when car
crosses 2nd tape crosses 3rd tape crosses 4th tape
marker Distance marker. Distance (30 marker. Finish
(15cm) cm) (45cm)

Average

Graph a Distance vs Time plot on Desmos of the average times for each
marker. Distance is your y-axis and Time is your x-axis. Remember we
plot on a graph using (x,y) coordinates. Find the slope of the line. Print
out your graph and attach to your lab.

Calculate the average speed of each tape marker using the formula I
gave you AVG speed = distance / time.

Analysi
1. What is the average speed of the car?


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2. What do you notice about the slope you calculated and the
average speed you calculated with the formula? Are they the
same? Are they different? Why do you think they are the same
or different?