Year 11

ATAR Physics
Experiment – Linear Motion
Worth 10 % of YEAR mark

Experiment Assessments - Pre and Post Lab Questions

For this experiment you will be expected to come prepared to class having:

 Answered a number of “Pre-Lab” questions and completed required

background research;
 Familiarised yourself with the required procedures; and
 Prepared any necessary tables to record your data in.

You will not be required to complete a laboratory report but will need to submit the
required processing of data, graphical presentation/analysis and evaluation of
uncertainties.

A follow-up “Post-Lab Validation” assessment will be used to assess your

knowledge of the method, processing skills and understanding of how to analyse
the results. This assessment may ask direct questions about the lab or require you
to manipulate and/or analyse data from a similar experiment.

Timeline

Date Student Activity

Monday, August 8 Pre-Lab Questions to be submitted.

Monday, August 8 Students perform experiment in class.

Monday, August 15 Processing of Results to be submitted.

Monday, August 15 Students sit a validation test in class.

Marking Scheme

Pre-Lab Questions 20%

Processing of Results 20%
Validation Test 60%
Experiment Overview

Friction is one of the most common forces we encounter in our everyday lives.
Since there are so many factors influencing the amount of friction between two
surfaces, the amount of friction between two surfaces cannot be determined using
a simple equation. Instead, it must be determined by experiment.

The standard way to measure the amount of friction between two objects is the
coefficient of friction (symbol: μ, pronunciation: mew), which relates the
magnitude of the acceleration due to friction to that due to gravity. This relation is
given by
a f =μg
where g = 9.8 m/s is the acceleration due to gravity.
2

In this experiment, you will position a trolley on a ramp and releasing it from rest,
allow it to roll down the ramp, gaining speed, before rolling across a flat surface and
eventually coming to rest due to friction. By measuring the vertical height from
which the trolley starts and the distance it travels from the base of the ramp, you
will be able to determine the coefficient of friction for the surface using a method
outlined through the Pre-Lab Questions. For the purpose of answering these
questions, you should assume any friction experienced when rolling down the ramp
to be negligible.

Assessment Policy:

Students should familiarise themselves with the school assessment policy

The Pre-Lab Questions are due Period 2, Monday, August 8, while the
Processing of Results is due Period 2, Monday, August 14. Students who submit
either of these components after their respective due dates without having
previously been granted an extension for this assessment or having provided
evidence of a valid reason for non-submission will be given a mark of zero for the
relevant component.

As per the school assessment policy, granting extensions may unfairly advantage
certain students and hence extensions are unlikely to be granted except in extreme
circumstances.

Students will undertake their experiment on Monday, August 8 and will undertake
their Validation Test on Monday, August 15. In the event that a student will not be
attending school on either of these days, their parents/carers should notify their
teacher as soon as this is known and be able to provide documentary evidence of
a valid reason for this absence, as governed by the school assessment policy.
 Year 11
ATAR Physics
Experiment – Linear Motion
Pre-Lab Questions: Worth 20% of your mark for this TASK.

1. Explain what is meant by friction. [2 marks]

2. Friction can be divided into two categories; static friction and kinetic friction.

a. Explain the difference between static friction and kinetic friction. [2 marks]

b. Which frictional force is greater? Why? [2 marks]

3. An object is initially moving on a horizontal surface at 2 m/s. The ball comes to rest in 5
seconds due to the frictional force. Determine the coefficient of friction for the surface.
[2 marks]
4. An object is dropped from a 10 m high window. Determine the speed at which it hits the
ground. [3 marks]

5. An object slides 40 m down a hill with incline 20° . Determine its speed at the bottom of the hill.
[3 marks]

6. Show that in general, the speed of an object sliding down a hill with incline θ ° starting from rest
at a vertical height of h metres will reach a speed given by v=√ 2 gh. [4 marks]
7. If the object then continues to travel along a flat surface, with frictional acceleration −a f , show
g
that the distance it travels from the bottom of the hill is given by s= h and hence give an
af
equation that links s , h , and μ. [4 marks]

8. The experiment will involve measurements of both h and s. Explain how the value of μ could
be determined from a graph that plots the dependent variable against the independent
variable. You should state what each of these variables correspond to. [2 marks]

9. Suppose that during the experiment the car does not roll directly down the hill, but rather
travels at an angle to the bottom of the hill. Discuss the impact of this on the experiment’s data
and hence the determined value of μ. [3 marks]
10. Discuss one other factor you believe may influence the results of this experiment, including the
effect it may have and why you feel this is significant. [3 marks]

11. A student at another school has performed a similar experiment but has only collected one
datum. They measure the distance travelled from the bottom of the ramp to be 26 cm using a
ruler which has millimetre graduations.
a. Explain why the uncertainty in this measurement would be ± 0.1 cm. [2 marks]

b. The student estimates the height the trolley started at to be 10 ± 1 cm. Show how they
can calculate the coefficient of friction for the surface using these measurements and
further show how the uncertainty in the student’s value for the coefficient of friction
would be determined. [4 marks]

12. Given that a f =μg , what does this tell you about the units for μ? [1 mark]
 Year 11
ATAR Physics
Experiment – Linear Motion
Processing of Results: Worth 20% of your mark for this TASK.

You will need to submit the following:

 Table of results (maximum marks available: 14)
 Graph of results (maximum marks available: 10)
 Determination of the coefficient of friction using your graph of results (maximum marks
available: 6).
 Determination of the uncertainty in your value for the coefficient of friction (maximum marks
available: 15)

You do not need to prepare a full experimental report (but should make it clear how you have
determined the coefficient of friction and its uncertainty).

You may use the fact that the percentage uncertainty of a value is the same as the percentage
uncertainty of the inverse of that value. That is to say that is x has an uncertainty of 5%, the value
of 1/ x also has an uncertainty of 5%.

The Processing of Results section will be due Period 2, Monday August 14.
 Year 11
ATAR Physics
Experiment 2 – Linear Motion
Validation Test: Worth 60% of your mark for this TASK.

Validation Test

You will sit a validation test to check your understanding a week after the experiment. You cannot
take in notes (including your experimental report) but you will have the formula and data sheet.
The validation test will be held in class on Monday, August 15.