Name:_____________________________ Year & Sec.:_______________ Score:________
Teacher:___________________________ Date:_____________________ Rating:_______
Activity 1
Roll, roll, and away!
Objectives:
Record the time for the tin can to travel a given distance;
Calculate the acceleration of the can rolling down an inclined
plane, given a distance vs. time and distance vs. time
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graph of its
motion; and
Describe the motion of an object given a distance vs. time or a
distance vs. time
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graph.
Materials Needed:
Board/plank (at least 200 cm long)
Timing device (stopwatch)
Tin can
Stack of books
Protractor
Procedure:
1. Set up an inclined plane by putting one end of the plane on top of a stack of
books. Mark the plane for every 40 cm and label these as 40 cm, 80 cm, 120
cm, and so on, starting from the lowest end.
2. Measure the base and the height and calculate the angle of inclination. Use
the formula, Ɵ = tan-1(height / base)
3. Roll the tin can from each labeled point starting with the 40 cm mark. Start
the timer as the tin can is released, and stop the timer when the tin can
reaches the bottom of the inclined plane.
4. Ask your partner to record the time (t) taken by the tin can to travel each
distance (d) down the plane. Perform three trials from each mark. Use the
table below for your data.
5. Graph d vs. t and then d vs. t
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