Name: ___________________________________ Physics CP

Per: ____

Date: ________ Tumble Buggy Lab

The Great Tumble Buggy Road Race

Objectives: - Determine the average speed of a tumble buggy over a 3.0 meter distance. - Collect and analyze position and time data at different intervals to determine if the tumble buggys speed is constant. - Construct a position vs. time graph to represent the motion of the tumble buggy. - Find the slope of the best-fit line and compare to the calculated average speed. - Based on class data, predict which tumble buggy will win a road race. Materials: - Tumble Buggy - Meter stick -1 stopwatches - Masking tape - Graph paper Procedure: 1. Mark a starting point on the floor with masking tape. 2. Use the meter stick to create a race track 3 meters long. Place a piece of masking tape at each 1 m interval. 3. Once your race track is set up, position a group member at each piece of masking tape. The first person (the starter) will hold the car and another student (timer) should have a stop watch. 4. The person at the starting line should turn on the car and release it from behind the starting line. The starter should indicate to the timer when to begin timing. The timer should stop the stopwatch when the tumble buggy reaches the masking tape at their position. Record the time in the data table. 5. Repeat running and timing of the car for a total of 5 trials for each position with the vehicle starting at zero for each distance traveled. 6. Calculate the average time for the buggy to reach each position and record in the data table. 7. Using the averaged time to move 3.0 m, calculate the average speed of the tumble buggy over the entire 3.0 m distance and record in the data table. Show your work in question number 1 of the analysis. 8. Using Logger Pro, construct a position vs. time graph for the buggys motion, as demonstrated by your teacher. Make sure to include axis labels, units, and a title. 9. Draw a best-fit line for your data, as demonstrated by your teacher. 10. Find the slope of the best-fit line and record it in the data table. Attach your graph to your lab. Data: Buggy #____ Average Speed = _________ m/s Slope of best-fit line = ___________ Trial 1 2 3 4 5 to (at d = 0 m) 0 0 0 0 0 Time (s) t1 (at d = 1 m) t2 (at d = 2 m) t3 (at d = 3 m)

average Analysis:

1. What equation did you use to determine the average speed of your tumble buggy? Show the work for your calculation.

2. Based on the graph of your data, did your car move at a constant speed or did its speed fluctuate? Justify your answer.

3. Compare the average speed you calculated and the slope of the position vs. time graph. Are they similar to each other? What does the slope of the position vs. time graph mean?

4. Make a list of the average speeds for the other tumble buggies in your class. If these cars were to race each other, predict the order in which they would finish the race.

5. After actually racing each other, were your predictions correct? Explain. What factors may have influenced the precision and accuracy of your measurements?