Name: Date:

Middle School Physical Science

Change in Speed
Directions: Read and follow the directions below to complete this activity.

I. Introduction
Can you predict the speed of a toy car as it moves down a track? What happens to the
speed of a car as it rolls down a ramp? Does the speed stay constant, or does the
speed change?

You will now perform an investigation in which you measure the speed of a car at
different points as it rolls down a ramp and track. Then, you will create a graph that
describes the motion of the car at different points.

II. Your Task

You will graph the motion of a toy car and then interpret the results.

III. Process
You will use the scientific method to conduct your investigation. The scientific method is a
set of steps that includes observation, measurement, experiment, and the testing of a
hypothesis. Once you have completed the investigation, you will use the scientific method to
explain how you reached your conclusion.

IV. Problem
What is the average speed of a toy car as it hits certain points on a track?

V. Hypothesis
At which point on the track do you think the toy car will have the highest speed? Write your
hypothesis below.

VI. Plan
a. Materials
calculator
15” x 6” piece of
cardboard meterstick
stopwatch
tape
3 textbooks
toy car

Copyright 2018 © Lincoln Learning Solutions. All rights

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Name: Date:
Middle School Physical Science
Change in Speed
Directions: Read and follow the directions below to complete this activity.

b. Procedure
1. Stack three textbooks on the floor.

2. Slant the piece of cardboard by resting one end on top of the books and the
other end on the ground, thus creating a ramp.

3. Use the meter stick and masking tape to mark off distances on the floor of 0.0 m,
0.25 m, 0.50 m, 0.75 m, and 1 m away from the lower edge of the ramp.

4. Place the toy car at the top of the ramp and roll it down the ramp a few times
to practice timing how long it takes for the car to hit each masking tape mark.

5. Once you are comfortable with timing the car, place the car at the top of the ramp.

6. Let the car roll. Begin timing when the car reaches the end of the ramp.

7. Stop the timer at the 0.0 m tape mark. Record the time in the data table below.

8. Continue Step 7 using the 0.25 m, 0.50 m, 0.75 m, and 1 m tape marks. Record each value
in the data table.

9. Complete steps 7 and 8 once more so that you have performed two trials for each distance.

Distance (m) Time 1 (s) Time 2 (s) Average (s) Speed (m/s)

0.25

0.50

0.75

*To calculate the average of the trials, add Time 1 and Time 2, and then divide by 2.

**To calculate the speed, divide distance over average time.

Copyright 2018 © Lincoln Learning Solutions. All rights

reserved.
Name: Date:
Middle School Physical Science
Change in Speed
Directions: Read and follow the directions below to complete this activity.

VII. Analysis

1. Using the results you recorded in your data table, create a graph that shows the motion
of the toy car. Use the average times in your graph. Distance should go on the y-axis,
and time should go on the x-axis. Remember to add a title, labels, and units to your
graph.

2. What happens to the speed of the car as it reaches the far end of the meter stick? If you
are not sure, roll the car down the ramp again, let the car go past 1 m, and observe what
happens.

3. Do your data and graph show a change in speed from beginning to end? Explain.

Copyright 2018 © Lincoln Learning Solutions. All rights

reserved.
Name: Date:
Middle School Physical Science
Change in Speed
Directions: Read and follow the directions below to complete this activity.

VIII. Reach a Conclusion

After analyzing your results, write a conclusion that supports or disproves your
hypothesis about the speed of the car at each point on the track. Using the lines below,
write a paragraph that answers the problem you worked to solve. Your paragraph
should answer the following questions:

• Did your car speed up or slow down as it passed each taped point?
• At which point was your car the fastest?
• At which point was your car the slowest?
• What could you do to your car and/or the ramp to make the car go faster?

Copyright 2018 © Lincoln Learning Solutions. All rights

reserved.