Lab #2: Graphing Velocity and Acceleration

By: Morgan Fones, Kathryn Howe

Hypothesis​: If one were to walk quickly away from the motion sensor then both the
velocity and acceleration would be positive.

Materials​:
● Whiteboard
● Labquest
● Motion sensor
● Graphing Chromebook Extension

Procedures​:
1. Gather necessary materials.
2. Use the Labquest chromebook app to connect labquest to your chromebook.
3. Change the Labquest graph settings to show velocity and acceleration.
4. When doing Graphs 1 and 2 you have use a whiteboard and walk backwards
constantly increasing your speed to have both a positive velocity and acceleration.
5. Take screenshots of both the graphs and tables.
6. When doing Graphs 3 and 4 you have to use a whiteboard and walk backwards
constantly decreasing your speed to have a positive velocity and a negative
acceleration.
7. Take screenshots of both the graphs and tables.
8. When doing Graphs 5 and 6 you have to use a whiteboard and walk towards the
motion sensor constantly increasing your speed to have a negative velocity and a
positive acceleration.
9. Take screenshots of both the graphs and tables.
10. When doing Graphs 7 and 8 you have to use a whiteboard and walk towards the
motion sensor constantly decreasing your speed to have a negative velocity and a
positive acceleration.

Data Tables/Graphs​:
Graphs 1 & 2:
Graphs 3 & 4:
Graphs 5 & 6:

Graphs 7 & 8:
Analysis​: In graphs 1 and 2 both the acceleration and velocity are positive. This was
achieved by walking away from the motion sensor constantly increasing speed. In
graphs 3 and 4 there was a positive velocity and a negative acceleration. This was
achieved by walking away from the motion sensor constantly decreasing speed. In
graphs 5 and 6 there was a negative velocity but a positive acceleration. This was
achieved by walking towards the motion sensor constantly increasing speed. In graphs 7
and 8 there was a negative velocity and a negative acceleration. This was achieved by
walking towards the motion sensor constantly decreasing speed. Overall there was a
direct correlation between the direction you were moving and the velocity and there was
also a correlation between the speed and acceleration.

Conclusion​: This lab investigated the relationship between velocity and acceleration. It
was hypothesized that if one were to move quickly away from the motion sensor, then
both velocity and acceleration would be positive in terms of the graph. The results of the
experiment proved the hypothesis correct. Evidence of this can be seen in “graphs 1 &
2”. Graphs 1 and 2 both have positive acceleration and velocity since the participant that
made those graphs moved quickly away from the motion sensor in such a way that it
made both aspects positive. These results may not be valid since the motion sensor
could’ve malfunctioned or the chromebook extension used to graph may have also
malfunctioned. If this experiment was repeated, it is important to remember to make
sure the motion sensor is properly working and that the Labquest is properly set to show
velocity and acceleration data points.