Title of Experiment: Kinematics

09/10/19

Section 7

1. Objectives of the Lab:

 The objective of this lab was to learn how to collect data on position, velocity, and

acceleration by using tools such as a computer and a motion sensor. Furthermore, a goal

of this lab was to learn how to read graphs where position, velocity, and acceleration

were plotted vs. time.

2. Description of the Lab:

 During the first activity, I had to stand 2 meters away from a motion sensor and walk

toward it and then away from it once again. During the second activity, my lab partner

and I used a motion sensor cart and rolled it on the table so that it can record values for

position, velocity, and acceleration. In the third activity, I had to stand in front of a

motion sensor and match a position vs time graph as best as I could.

 The dependent variables are position (m), velocity (m/s), and acceleration (m/s^2). The

only independent variable is time (s).

3. Data

 Data is attached to the back

4. Analyzing my Results:

Activity 1

 As you walk toward the sensor, your position relative to the sensor is decreasing. As you

walk away from the sensor, your position relative to the sensor is increasing. The velocity

is negative when walking toward the sensor and positive when walking away from the

sensor.

a) The distance traveled between the two points on the position vs. time graph is 2.1m-0.34m=

1.76 m.

b) The area under the velocity vs time graph is expressed in units of m/s^2. Therefore, this area

represents the acceleration.

c) The average velocity as I walked from point 1 to point 2 toward the sensor is -0.47 m/s.

Average velocity= (0.34m-2.1m)/ (3.75s-0s) = -0.47m/s

d) This result is close to the mean value that I had obtained. The mean value on the graph is -0.52

and my value is -0.47 m/s. This means that the mean value represents the average velocity.

Activity 2

 The quadratic equation is used because there are two answers for time.

 Since the acceleration is constant, this means that the velocity is going to be increasing

linearly.