Constant Acceleration in Linear Motion 1Cabalquinto, Hernandez, Pua* 1 Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines *j_pu92@yahoo.

com Abstract n thi! !tudy, the re!earcher! a!" the que!tion!, #$hat i! linear motion, $hat are the concept! behind it and ho$ i! it mea!ured%. &o be able to an!$er the!e que!tion!, a photo'ate attached to the (o''erPro !o)t$are i! u!ed to mea!ure the acceleration and *elocity o) a cart bein' pu!hed +both li'htly and !tron'ly, on both a )lat air trac" and an inclined air trac". &hrou'h the e-periment, the re!earcher! are able to 'raph the motion o) the cart, *elocitie! )or both the non.acceleratin' and acceleratin' *alue!. /)ter analyzin' and interpretin' the re!ult!, the re!earcher! ha*e concluded that an object mo*e! in a con!tant acceleration $ithout )orce actin' upon it at )ir!t and increa!e! in acceleration a! )orce i! applied onto it. Measuring a Cars Acceleration using a Photogate I. Introduction (inear 0otion, al!o "no$n a! 1ectilinear 0otion, i! ba!ically motion in a !trai'ht line 213. &he motion o) a particle alon' a line can be de!cribed by it! po!ition , $hich *arie! $ith +time,. n linear motion, the direction! o) all the *ector! de!cribin' the !y!tem are equal and con!tant $hich mean! the object! mo*e alon' the !ame a-i! and do not chan'e direction. n !hort, an object e-periencin' linear motion mo*e! !trai'ht and )or$ard. &he analy!i! o) thi! may there)ore be !impli)ied by ne'lectin' the direction component! o) the *ector! in*ol*ed and dealin' only $ith the ma'nitude 223. (inear motion can be o) t$o type!4 uni)orm linear motion $ith con!tant *elocity or zero acceleration, and non.uni)orm linear motion $ith *ariable *elocity or non.zero acceleration 253. n thi! e-periment, the re!earcher! $ill need to create both "ind! o) linear motion $ith a !mall cart and an air trac". &he cart%! acceleration and *elocity can then be mea!ured $ith a photo'ate, a timin' de*ice, attached to the (o''erPro !o)t$are o) the computer. Ho$ doe! the photo'ate mea!ure the!e *ector! e-actly6 &hi! i! done throu'h a chopper attached to the cart. 7ince the chopper contain! alternatin' blac" !trip! and clear 'la!!, the photo'ate i! able to mea!ure the amount o) time the li'ht emitted )rom one !ide o) the photo'ate to the other !ide, the recei*er. &he photo'ate produce! and record! the time inter*al the beam o) li'ht $a! bro"en 283. II. Theoretical Framework 9or thi! !tudy, the mea!urable quantitie! $ould be +a, di!placement, x, +b, the *elocity o) the motion, v and +c, acceleration o) the motion, a. &he connection o) the di!placement and time o) the motion i! !een in thi! "inematic equation4 - : -o ; *ot ; 1<2 at2 +1, &he di!placement i! the dependent *ariable a))ected by the independent *ariable, acceleration. n thi! equation, the di!placement o) the object i! a re!ult o) the initial di!placement a! $ell a! the initial *elocity o) the object be)ore the motion to be ob!er*ed multiplied to it! time and the di!placement at $hich the object mo*ed at 'i*en acceleration. &he acceleration o) thi! !tudied motion and the time o) the motion $ill determine chan'e in po!ition o) the !aid object. =n the other hand, the connection o) the *elocity and time o) the motion i! !een in thi! "inematic equation4 * : *o ; at +2, &he *elocity i! the dependent *ariable a))ected by the independent *ariable, !till, acceleration . n thi! equation, the )inal *elocity o) the object i! a re!ult o) initial *elocity o) the object be)ore the motion to be ob!er*ed and the acceleration o) the object multiplied it! time. &he *elocity o) thi! !tudied motion and the time o) the motion $ill determine ho$ )a!t !aid object mo*e 'i*en the amount o) di!tance and time elap!ed. (a!tly, the connection o) the acceleration and an'le i! !een in thi! "inematic equation4

a : '!in +2, &he acceleration i!, no$, the dependent *ariable a))ected by the independent *ariable, !till, an'le o) the object. n thi! equation, the )inal *elocity o) the object i! a re!ult o) multiplyin' the 'ra*ity, $hich i! con!tant in thi! ca!e a! the object i! on earth and the an'le at $hich the object i! mo*in'. III. Methodology /. 0aterial! &he material! needed )or thi! e-periment are a computer, a meter !tic", the (o''erPro !o)t$are, a linear air trac" +2>? cm,, a 'lider<car $ith chopper or pic"et )ence, @ni*er!al (ab nter)ace and a photo'ate "it. n thi! e-periment, the photo'ate and the @ni*er!al (ab nter)ace determined the acceleration and *elocity *alue! o) the cart u!in' the chopper attached to it. &hi! i! po!!ible becau!e one !ide o) the photo'ate emit! li'ht, $hile the other recei*e! li'ht. &he photo'ate mea!ure! the amount o) time the #'ate% i! open ... that i!, $hen one !ide recei*e! the li'ht )rom the other. 7ince the chopper contain! blac" !trip!, the li'ht emitted by one !ide o) the photo'ate i! bloc"ed and there)ore doe! not record any data. A. Procedure /!!emble the apparatu! !ho$n in )i'ure 1. 0a"e !ure that the 'lider $ith the chopper pa!!e! throu'h the photo'ate )reely to a*oid error! in data collection. Connect the photo'ate plu' to the BC1 terminal o) the @ni*er!al (aboratory nter)ace. =pen the )ile D0otion &imer $ith Eernier Pic"et 9enceF )rom the Photo'ate )ile! o) (o''erPro. @!e only the 'raph! di!tance *!. time, and *elocity *!. di!tanceG di!re'ard acceleration *!. time 'raph. &e!t the photo'ate to !ee i) it i! $or"in' by bloc"in' it $ith a handG not that the photo'ate i! !ho$n a! bloc"ed in the !tatu! bar o) (o''erPro at the bottom o) the !creen. &he e-periment i! di*ided into t$o part!4 acceleration alon' a horizontal plane and acceleration alon' an inclined plane. Part one i! al!o di*ided into t$o part!4 !li'ht pu!h and !tron' pu!h. Pre!! collect then li'htly pu!h the cart alon' the air trac". Pre!! !top only $hen it ha! )ully pa!!ed throu'h the photo'ate. H-amine the 'raph! and adju!t the !cale o) the a-e! i) nece!!ary and type the de!ired ma-imum *alue that $ill )it the data. Copy the data to micro!o)t e-cel and plot the 'raph. 1epeat the !ame procedure but thi! time pu!hin' the cart $ith more )orce. Compare the ne$ 'raph $ith the pre*iou! 'raph. 9or part 2, incline the air trac" in !uch a $ay that the 'lider $ill accelerate do$n the trac". /dju!t the photo'ate i) nece!!ary. Calculate the an'le o) inclination by mea!urin' the hei'ht and len'th o) the trac". Pre!! collect and let 'o o) the 'lider. Pre!! !top $hen the $hole 'lider ha! pa!!ed throu'h the photo'ate. H-amine the 'raph! and adju!t the !cale o) the a-e! i) nece!!ary and type the de!ired ma-imum *alue that $ill )it the data. Copy the data to micro!o)t e-cel and plot the 'raph. &ry to )it a !trai'ht line to the di!tance *!. time 'raph by !electin' linear and try )it )rom #Cur*e 9it% )rom the analyze menu. &hen try to )it a quadratic cur*e by !electin' quadratic. 1ecord the !lope in the table pro*ided. =btain the ma!! o) the 'lider $ith the chopper. =btain at lea!t > *alue! by doin' > trial!. 1ecord the *alue! in the table pro*ided and compute the a*era'e acceleration )or that an'le o) inclination. Io need to !"etch the 'raph! )or the remainin' 8 trial!. ncline the air trac" at a di))erent an'le and repeat the !ame procedure. Compare the a*era'e e-perimental acceleration to the theoretical acceleration and complete the table pro*ided. C. 7tati!tical &ool! &he equation! u!ed )or thi! e-periment are the )ollo$in'4 9or acceleration, a : '!in 9or di!placement, - : -o ; *ot ; 1<2 at2 9or *elocity, * : *o ; at Cur*e )ittin' $a! u!ed in the !econd part o) thi! e-periment. (inear and quadratic cur*e! $ere )itted to the 'raph! produced. &o compute )or the percent error, the equation belo$ i! u!ed4

J H-perimental Ealue . /ctual Ealue J - 1?? J /ctual Ealue J IV. esults ! "iscussion 9i'ure! 1 to 5 !ho$! the di))erent motion 'raph! o) the )ir!t ca!e in the *elocity part o) the e-periment, in $hich one pu!he! the 'lider $ith a !lo$ and 'entle pu!h. 9i'ure 1 !ho$! a di!tance *!. time 'raphG )i'ure 2 !ho$! a *elocity *!. time 'raph and )i'ure 5 !ho$! an acceleration *!. time 'raph.
Figure # "istance $s Time %ra&h a'ter a %entle Push on the Cart

Bi!tance +m,

&ime +!,

Figure (. Velocity $s Time %ra&h a'ter a %entle Push on the Cart

Eelocity +m<!,

&ime +!,

Figure ). Acceleration $s Time %ra&h a'ter a %entle Push on the Cart

/cceleration +m<!2,

& ime +!,

7een in the 'raph!, *aried a!!umption! can be deri*ed in the di))erent 'raph!. n 9i'ure 1, the plot! in the di!tance *!. time 'raph !eem to )ollo$ a !trai'ht line, !ho$in' a con!tant *elocity. n 9i'ure 2, the plot! in the *elocity *!. time 'raph !eem to )it in an cur*e trendline, !ho$in' a chan'e in acceleration. /t thi! point a di!parity bet$een the con!tancy o) the *elocity and chan'e in *elocity a! the t$o 'raph! !ho$ contradictory interpretation. &he third 'raph, 9i'ure 5, )urther complicate! the !ituation $here the plot! are !cattered at !e*eral portion o) the 'raph. 9i'ure! 8 to K !ho$! the di))erent motion 'raph! o) the !econd ca!e in the *elocity part o) the e-periment, in $hich one pu!he! the 'lider $ith a !tron'er pu!h. 9i'ure 8 !ho$! a di!tance *!. time 'raphG )i'ure > !ho$! a *elocity *!. time 'raph and )i'ure K !ho$! an acceleration *!. time 'raph.

Figure *. "istance $s Time %ra&h a'ter a +trong Push on the Cart

Bi!tance +m,

& ime +!, Figure ,. Velocity $s Time %ra&h a'ter a +trong Push on the Cart

Eelocity +m<!,

& ime +!, Figure -. Acceleration $s Time %ra&h a'ter a +trong Push on the Cart

/cceleration +m<! ,

& ime +!,

7een in the 'raph!, *aried a!!umption! can be deri*ed in the di))erent 'raph! and it !eem! that the !ituation )or the!e a!!umption! ha*e become more complicated. n 9i'ure 8, the plot! in the di!tance *!. time 'raph !eem to )ollo$ a !trai'ht line, !ho$in' a con!tant *elocity. n 9i'ure >, the plot! in the *elocity *!. time 'raph !eem to )ollo$ in an cur*e trendline, !ho$in' a chan'e in acceleration. /t thi!

point a di!parity bet$een the con!tancy o) the *elocity and chan'e in *elocity a! the t$o 'raph! !ho$ contradictory interpretation. &he third 'raph, 9i'ure K, $hich i! a'ain an acceleration *!. time 'raph )urther complicate! the !ituation $here the plot! are !cattered at !e*eral portion o) the 'raph. 9i'ure! L to 9 !ho$! the di))erent motion 'raph! o) the )ir!t ca!e in the acceleration part o) the e-periment, in $hich one pu!he! the 'lider at an'le o) inclination o) M.KN. 9i'ure L !ho$! a di!tance *!. time 'raphG )i'ure M !ho$! a *elocity *!. time 'raph and )i'ure 9 !ho$! an acceleration *!. time 'raph.

Figure .. "istance $s Time %ra&h o' Cart at /.-0 Angle

Bi!tance +m,

& ime +!, Figure /. Velocity $s Time %ra&h o' Cart at /.-0 Angle

Eelocity +m<!,

& ime +!, Figure 1. Acceleration $s Time %ra&h o' Cart at /.-0 Angle

/cceleration +m<!2,

& ime +!,

&he )ollo$in' data table !ho$! the di))erent *alue! o) acceleration o) the 'lider in the !econd part o) the e-periment at $hich the 'lider mo*e! at an inclined plane. Bata &able 14 &he ma!! and acceleration *alue! o) the mo*ement o) a 'lider in di))erent ca!e! o) an'le o) inclination 0a!! o) the 'lider4 >?>.2 "' 1!t inclination 1 : M.KN &rial Iumber 1 2 5 8 > /*era'e /cceleration +m<!2, /cceleration *alue! +m<!2, 1.1>2 1.2?K 1.2?? 1.21M 1.2?M 1.19L 2nd inclination 2 : 11.5KN /cceleration *alue! +m<!2, 1.>>? 1.>9? 1.>5K 1.>LK 1.>52 1.>>L

9i'ure! 9 to 12 !ho$! the di))erent motion 'raph! o) the )ir!t ca!e in the acceleration part o) the e-periment, in $hich one pu!he! the 'lider at an'le o) inclination o) 11.5KN. 9i'ure 1? !ho$! a di!tance *!. time 'raphG )i'ure 11 !ho$! a *elocity *!. time 'raph and )i'ure 12 !ho$! an acceleration *!. time 'raph.

Figure #2. "istance $s Time %ra&h o' Cart at ##.)-0 Angle

Bi!tance +m,

& ime +!, Figure ##. Velocity $s Time %ra&h o' Cart at ##.)-0 Angle

Eelocity +m<!,

& ime +!,

Figure #(. Acceleration $s Time %ra&h o' Cart at ##.)-0 Angle

/cceleration +m<!2,

& ime +!,

Bata &able 24 &he Bi))erence o) theoretical and e-perimental acceleration 'i*en the an'le o) inclination /n'le o) nclination +, 14 M.KN 24 11.5KN &heoretical /cceleration +a:'!in , 1.8K> 1.95? /*era'e H-perimental /cceleration 1.19L 1.>>L Percenta'e Hrror 1M.29O 19.55O

Comparin' the a*era'e acceleration o) the t$o an'le o) inclination to it! corre!pondin' theoretical acceleration, both o) the an'le! ha*e *aried theoretical and e-perimental acceleration )rom each other. &he )ir!t an'le o) inclination ha! an a*era'e e-perimental acceleration clo!er it! theoretical counterpart than the !econd an'le o) inclination. &hi! i! 'i*en by the percenta'e error o) the t$o ca!e!, $here the )ir!t an'le o) inclination ha! a lo$er *alue than the !econd one. 9i'ure 1? !ho$! that a quadratic trendline i! a better )it. &hi! i! becau!e o) the relation!hip bet$een di!tance and time $hen the acceleration i! not equal to zero a! !een in the )ormula - : -o ; *ot ; 1<2 at2 +Hquation 1, $here x i! the )inal di!placement , xo the initial di!placement, vo the initial *elocity, t the time, and a the acceleration. ) there i! no acceleration, the re!ultin' equation $ill be a linear one. Ho$e*er, !ince the 'lider $a! in an inclined !ur)ace, 'ra*ity acted on the 'lider, 'i*in' a theoretically con!tant acceleration. &he *elocity *!. time 'raph ha! a po!iti*e !lopeG that i!, it i! increa!in'. &hi! i! con!i!tent $ith the )act that acceleration i! pre!ent due to the pull o) 'ra*ity a! !een in the )ormula * : *o ; at +Hquation 2, $here ' i! the acceleration due to 'ra*ity. &he initial *elocity i! the !lope o) the o) the di!tance *!. time 'raph had a linear trendline $a! )itted on it. /! !een in the table, there i! a 'reat di))erence bet$een the actual *alue o) the acceleration and the theoretical re!ult. &hi! mi'ht be due to the inaccurate mea!urement o) the an'le o) inclination. n addition, the !et.up o) the e-periment $a! un!teady in that the an'le o) inclination *aried o*er !e*eral

trial!, a))ectin' the accuracy o) the e-periment. 0oreo*er, the photo'ate could ha*e al!o contributed to the inaccuracy o) the e-periment. V. Conclusions @!in' the Photo'ate, the 'roup $a! able to 'ather data o) human motion! in di))erent condition!. &he condition!, ho$e*er, $ere not )ully met due to the limitation! o) the !tudent! and the in!trument a! $ell. &he per!i!tin' error! ari!e! )rom human error and in!trument error a! !een in the )luctuation! o) the 'raph. 0oreo*er, the in!trument it!el) could cau!e the!e )luctuation!, contributin' to the inaccuracie! o) the re!ult! o) the e-periment. e'erences 1 1e!nic", 1obert and Halliday, Ba*id +19KK,, Physics, 7ection 5.8 2 Aur"ett, Arendan. Aa!ic Principle! )or @nder!tandin'. Human Pinetic!. Qhttp4<<$$$.human"inetic!.com<e-cerpt!<e-cerpt!<ba!ic.mechanical.principle!R. date acce!!ed4 Suly 11, 2?12 5 Thelan, Hod'e!on, and 0urray. Essential Principles of Physics4 2nd Hdition, 19LM. 8 Photo'ate!. Qhttp4<<$$$.$au"e!ha!outh.com<phy!ic!1<photo.htmlR. date acce!!ed4 Suly 11, 2?12