Experiment 3: Kinematics of Translation
Laboratory Report
Rafael David, Pamela de Leon, Katrina de Vera, Manette Dejelo
Department of Sports Science
College of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Santo Tomas
España Street, Manila Philippines
Abstract
Kinematics is a branch of mechanics
that describes the motion of objects and
systems without consideration of the forces
that causes the motion. In this experiment,
the displacement vs. time graphs and
velocity vs. time graphs were plotted, and a
graphical analysis was made. The reaction
time of each member of the group was
computed.
1. Introduction
There are two aspects to any motion.
In a purely descriptive sense, there is the
movement itself. Then, there is the issue of
what causes the motion to change, which
requires the forces to be considered.
Kinematics deals with the concepts that are
needed to describe motion without reference
to its forces. To describe the motion of an
object, we must be able to specify the
location of the object at all times.
Displacement is a vector quantity for it
conveys both magnitude and a direction.
The magnitude of the displacement vector is
the shortest distance between the initial and
final positions of the object.
Average velocity is displacement
over elapsed time.
This equation indicates that the unit
for average velocity is the unit for length
m
divided by the unit for time ( ). Average
s
velocity is a vector that points in the same
direction as the displacement in the
equation. If the displacement points in the
positive direction, the average velocity is
positive. If the displacement point in the
negative direction, the average velocity is
negative.
Reaction time is the interval of time
between application of a stimulus and
detection of a response. It is the ability to
respond quickly to a stimulus.
In this experiment, the group should
be able to achieve the following objectives:
(1) to draw the displacement versus time
graphs and velocity versus time graphs for
uniform motion and uniformly accelerated
motion (2) and to determine one’s reaction
time.
2. Theory
Graphical analysis of motion is
defined as a detailed study of the motions
used in a work task or at a given work area.
The average speed of an object in the
interval of time is the distance traveled by
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the object divided by the duration of the
interval the instantaneous speed is the limit
of the average speed of the duration of the
time interval approaches zero. Like velocity,
speed also has the dimensions of a length
divided by a time. The SI unit of speed is the
meter per second, but the most usual unit of
speed in everyday usage is the kilometer per
hour.
distance
Average Speed=
elapsed time
∆v
a=
∆t
A body falling straight down moves only
under the influence of gravity and air
resistance, for fairly short falls by massive
objects, the effect of air resistance is
negligible. Gravity is equal to 9.8 m/s2
Kinematic Equations:

Velocity is defined as the distance 1

covered by a moving object in a particular
direction in unit time or speed in a particular
direction. The SI unit of velocity is m/s
(meters per second). Velocity is defined as 2
the distance travelled in a specified direction
in unit time. The distance travelled in a
specified direction is displacement. 3*

displacement
Average Velocity =
elapsed time 4*

Acceleration is defined as the rate of 5*

change of velocity of a moving body with
time. This change could be a change in the
speed of the object or its direction of motion
or both. Acceleration = Rate of change of
velocity with time. If the velocity of an
object increases then the object is said to be
moving with positive acceleration. If the
velocity of an object decreases then the
object is said to be moving with negative
acceleration. Negative acceleration is also
known as retardation or deceleration. If the
change in velocity is zero, example either
the object is at rest or moving with uniform
velocity, then the object is said to have zero
acceleration. If the change in velocity in
equal intervals of time is always the same,
then the object is said to be moving with
uniform acceleration. If the change in
velocity in equal intervals of time is not the
same, then the object is said to be moving
with variable acceleration.
* Requires constant Acceleration
The slope of a line characterizes the
general direction in which a line points.  To
find the slope, you divide the difference of
the y-coordinates of a point on a line by the
difference of the x-coordinates. One of the
most important properties of a straight line
is in how it angles away from the horizontal.
This concept is reflected in something called
the "slope" of the line. Vertical lines have no
slope. In particular, the concept of slope
simply does not work for vertical lines.
Formula to find the slope of a line:

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A direct relation is of the form a = b. This
means that if one goes up, the other must go
up with it. If one is doubled, the other must
also be doubled. An inverse relation is of the
form a = 1/b. This means that if one is
doubled, the other is halved, thus
maintaining equality.
where h is the distance the meter stick has
fallen measured from the 50cm mark to
where the meter stick was caught. The other
group members also determined their
reaction time.
4. Results and Discussion

3. Methodology Table 1. Uniform Motion

Time Displacement Ave. Velocity

The materials that were used for this (s) (cm) (cm/s)
experiment were battery operated toy car, 2s 63 cm 31.5 cm/s
meter stick, and a timer. 4s 162 cm 40.5 cm/s
6s 359 cm 59.8 cm/s
8s 425 cm 53.1 cm/s
In the first activity (uniform motion), 10s 512 cm 51.2 cm/s
the distance traveled by a battery operated 12s 584 cm 48.7 cm/s
car every 2s interval for 20 seconds was 14s 663 cm 47.4 cm/s
16s 732 cm 45.6 cm/s
measured. The total displacement versus 18s 797 cm 44.3 cm/s
total time using was plotted. The best fit line 20s 869 cm 43.45 cm/s
was drawn, and the slope of the line was
determined. Table 1 shows the time,
displacement, and average velocity of the
battery operated car. The distance travelled
In the second activity (graphical
by the car was measured every 2s for 20
analysis), a motion detector was used along
seconds.
with a board made of Styrofoam. A student
was tasked to control the computer while the Figure 1. Displacement vs. Time
other student held the board. The icon
collect was clicked by the student in the
computer signaling the start of the
experiment. The movement of the student
who held the board was determined by the
graph that was presented on the computer.
The student moved either forward or
backward depending on the interval of the
graph.

In the third activity (reaction time), a

group mate was asked to hold a meter stick
vertically at the zero mark while the other
group mate positioned her thumb and index
finger at the 50cm mark. The group mate
was told to drop the meter stick without
telling the other group mate. It was caught
with the thumb and index finger. The
reaction time from the formula is: t=√ 2 ;

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Figure 2. Average Velocity vs. Time
Figure 1 and Figure 2 show the
plotted displacement versus time and
average versus time, respectively. The slope
∆y
was determined with the formula slope=
∆x
For figure 1, the slope is . For figure 2,
the slope is .
Figure 3.1 Graphical Analysis
Figure 3.2 Graphical Analysis
Figure 3 shows the graph matching
by using the motion detector and board
made of Styrofoam. This shows the
movement of the member.
Table 2. Reaction Time
RT RT while
Student
(s) talking (s)
Raffy 0.24s 0.25s
Pamela 0.24s 0.22s
Katrina 0.22s 0.17s
Manette 0.24s 0.17s
Table 2 shows the reaction time of
the group members while dropping a meter
stick without any signal, and another while
the other members were distracting the
particular student. Katrina had the fastest
reaction time. While talking, Manette and
. Katrina had the fastest reaction time.
5. Conclusion
Determining the velocity and
displacement in objects is a hard task to do. But
with the help of graphs, you can come to
understand and apply what the things you
learned are there for. You have to have patience
for you to be able to analyze what motion is all
about. There are many different ways. Just like
in this activity, a toy car’s velocity was
measured by carefully taking note of its distance
in every 2 second interval. It wasn’t easy; you
might have to repeat it to be accurate. Another
way to determine velocity is what happened with
Activity number 4. It can be very unpredictable
but still you can measure one’s reaction time. In
any way that you try to figure out how velocity
and displacement works, it is going to need time
and patience for you to be successful with your
goal.
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6. Applications
1) Devise a way to determine the
height of a building using only a
stopwatch.
To determine the height of a building
using a stopwatch one must do the
following. First, get a rock or any
object that would not break if
dropped. Then drop the rock and
with the use of a stopwatch measure
the time it took for the rock to reach
the ground from the building. For the
calculations, we will use this formula
y = Vot + 1/2at 2. Y will be the
measurement of the building, Vo will
be the initial velocity which is 0 and
a will be the acceleration which is
-9.8m/ s2, or gravity and t will be the
time. Let’s assume the time for
example would be 6.00 seconds. The
equation will look like this: y =
(0m/s) (6.00s) + ½(-9.8m/ s2)
(6.00s)2. y = -176.4m or simple 176
meters. We could therefore calculate
the height of the building using a
stopwatch and some math
calculations.
with acceleration being represented
as gravity. On the other hand, you
will not get the same result if this
experiment was done on the moon.
Both the hammer and the feather will
drop at the same time. The reason
behind this is that there is no gravity
present in the moon thus enabling the
hammer and the feather to drop at
the same time.
7. References
[1] Cutnell, J.D. & Johnson, K.W. (2010).
Introduction to physics. (8th ed.). USA: John
Wiley & Sons.
[2] Reaction Time. Retrieved on December
9, 2010 from
http://www.topendsports.com/testing/reacti
me.htm
[3] Graphical analysis of linear motion.
Retrieved on December 9, 2010 from
http://phy-
061062.blogspot.com/2007/06/graphical-
analysis-of-linear-motion.html

2) If you drop a feather and a

hammer from the same height
here on earth, which will reach the
ground first? Will you get the
same result if you perform the
experiment on the surface of the
moon?

The hammer will reach the ground

first than the feather if dropped from
the same height here on earth. It is
because of the weight difference of
the two. The hammer is heavier than
the feather thus resulting in a greater
speed based on the formula s = m×a,