Abstract:

A look into the measurement of motion with constant acceleration through the testing of the formula
1
𝑥 − 𝑣𝑡 = 𝑎𝑡 2 . Three initial runs recording values for time, position, velocity and acceleration, and their
2
respective uncertainties were completed. The second part of the experiment introduced a magnetometer
and the same values were recorded, along with the magnetic spike as the iolab passed a predetermined
point at v ≠ 0. The formula proved true, thus the results were as expected.

Purpose:

The purpose of this experiment is the measurement of motion with constant acceleration while testing the
1
formula of 𝑥 − 𝑣𝑡 = 2 𝑎𝑡 2

Experimental setup:

A board was placed on the table and raised up in one end to get a slope, and the iolab device was placed at
the top and released. Three trials were recorded, and position, velocity and acceleration was noted with
respect to time. Uncertainties of this data was then calculated. Next part used the same setup, with the
exception of the two magnets added, and the iolabs magnetometer activated. The magnets allowed us to
pinpoint an interval in which we had an initial velocity ≠ 0 as we could note the magnetic spikes. One trial
was run in this experiment, and data for magnetometer, position, velocity and acceleration was extracted.

Results and discussion:

Table 1: Extract of data from the first part of the experiment showing Trial #, Time, Position, Velocity, and
Acceleration:
 Position Velocity Acceleration
Trial Time (s) (m) (m/s) (m/s2)
1 0.900 0.632 1.340 1.636
2 0.800 0.545 1.260 1.436
3 0.810 0.531 1.240 1.309
Average 0.836667 0.569333 1.280 1.460333
Uncertainties 0.055 0.054 0.053 0.165

Using the formula we can obtain the uncertainties:

∑𝑛 (𝑥 − 𝑥̃)2
√ 𝑖=1 𝑖
𝑛−1

We end up with the following figures:

Time: (0.837 ± 0.055)s

Position: (0.569 ± 0.054)m

Velocity: (1.28 ± 0.053)m/s

Acceleration: (1.46 ± 0.165)m/s2

For the second part we extracted the iolab graphs showing the previous 3 recorded parameters and the
magnetometer:
Now we will use our obtained values to test the formula:
1
𝑥 − 𝑣𝑡 = 𝑎𝑡 2
2
We have:

x = 0.419m

t = 0.52s

v = 0.420m/s

a = 1.45m/s2

Plugging the values in we get:

𝑥 − 𝑣𝑡 = 0.419𝑚 − 0.420𝑚/𝑠 ∗ 0.520𝑠 = 0.200𝑚

1 2 1
𝑎𝑡 = ∗ 1.45𝑚/𝑠 2 ∗ (0.52𝑠)2 = 0.196𝑚
2 2
Comparing these results with uncertainties obtained in part one of the experiment we get:
 𝑥 − 𝑣𝑡 = (0.200 ± 0.054)m
1 2
𝑎𝑡 = (0.196 ± 0.054)m
2

Conclusions:

Through testing the formula we have gotten results as expected. The first part gave us uncertainties that
would be expected considering the factors of the shape and friction of the board, which in turn could not
guarantee the iolab would roll in a 100 percent straight line. The iolab tester had some performance issues,
perhaps with regards to battery that gave us some inconsistent readings. These were discarded and the
runs were repeated.