Lab Activity: Investigating Acceleration with a Rolling Ball
Objective:
To understand the concept of acceleration.
To measure the changing velocity of an object undergoing acceleration.
To calculate the average acceleration of the object.
To analyze the relationship between distance, time, velocity, and acceleration.
Materials:
A smooth ball (e.g., a tennis ball, a billiard ball, or a dynamics cart)
A long, smooth, inclined plane (a board propped up on books or a ramp)
Meter stick or measuring tape
Stopwatch or timer
Masking tape or marker
Books or other supports to adjust the incline
Procedure:
1. Set up the Incline: Create an inclined plane by propping one end of the board or ramp on a stack of books
or other supports. The angle of the incline should be relatively small to allow for measurable times. (If you
have a protractor, measure and record the incline angle.)
2. Mark Distances: On the inclined plane, mark several distances from the starting point (e.g., 20 cm, 40 cm,
60 cm, 80 cm, 100 cm).
3. Release the Ball: Place the ball at the top of the incline (the starting point). Release the ball without
pushing it – allow it to roll freely under the influence of gravity.
4. Time the Motion: Use the stopwatch to measure the time it takes for the ball to travel each marked
distance. It's a good idea to repeat each measurement a few times and take an average to minimize
error. Record your data in a table.
Data Table:
Distance (cm) Trial 1 (s) Trial 2 (s) Trial 3 (s) Average Time (s)
20
40
60
80
100
Calculations and Analysis:
1. Calculate Average Velocity: For each distance, calculate the average velocity using the formula:
Average Velocity (v) = Distance (d) / Average Time (t)
Record your results in a table. The units will be cm/s.
2. Calculate Acceleration: Since the ball starts from rest (initial velocity, v₀ = 0), we can use the following
equation of motion to calculate the acceleration:
d = v₀t + (1/2)at²
Since v₀ = 0, the equation simplifies to:
d = (1/2)at²
Solve for a (acceleration):
a = 2d / t²
Calculate the acceleration for each distance you measured. The units will be cm/s². Average these
acceleration values to get a better estimate of the average acceleration.
Criteria for Presenting Results:
Data Tables: Clearly labeled and organized tables showing distance and time measurements, calculated
average velocities, and calculated accelerations. Include units.
Calculations: Show all calculations, including formulas used and units.
Graphs (Optional but Recommended):
o Distance vs. Time: Plot distance (y-axis) against average time (x-axis).
o Velocity vs. Time: Plot average velocity (y-axis) against average time (x-axis). The slope of this graph
should represent the acceleration.
Discussion: Address the questions below and provide your own insights and observations about the
experiment.
Questions to answer:
1. Did the ball's velocity change as it rolled down the incline? How do your observations and calculations
support this?
2. Was the ball accelerating? How do your calculations support this?
3. What force is causing the ball to accelerate?
4. How do you think the angle of the incline affects the acceleration?
5. What are some possible sources of error in your experiment, and how could you improve the accuracy of
your measurements?
6. How does this experiment relate to real-world examples of acceleration?
