Motion Lab
Activity Questions:
● How do you identify the object that is in motion? ● How do you identify the reference point?
● How do you calculate the speed, distance, or time?
● Using a Distance vs. Time graph, how do you calculate the speed of an object?
A’s and B’s (Type Names Here) complete Experiments 1 and 2
Experiment 1:
Speed of a Falling Rubber Stopper
Materials:
● Online Stopwatch
● Tape Measure ● Rubber Stopper
Procedures:
1 Using a tape measure, measure the distance from the ground to the ceiling. Record it in the data table
2 Have another student hold the rubber stopper against the ceiling
3 When ready, the student holding the rubber stopper should say, "Ready, set, Go." and should drop the rubber stopper
4 The timer should start the watch when the rubber stopper is dropped 5 Stop the stopwatch when the rubber stopper hits the floor
6 Repeat steps 2 -5 two more times.
7 Calculate the speed of the rubber stopper. EVERYONE MUST SHOW THEIR CALCULATION IN THEIR SCIENCE NOTEBOOK
Data Table:
Trials Time (sec) Distance (cm) Speed (cm/s)
1
2
3
Average
● Identify the:
EVERY GROUP MEMBER MUST SHOW ALL CALCULATIONS IN THEIR SCIENCE NOTEBOOK!!
● Using the average speed, how long would it take for the rubber stopper to travel: ○ 2,500 cm?
● Using the average speed, how far would the rubber stopper travel if the rubber stopper fell for: ○ 52 seconds?
Experiment 2:
Speed of a Ball
Materials:
● Online Stopwatch
● Tape Measure ● Ball
● Binder ● Tape
Procedures:
1 Measure the length of the Table. See the picture below. Record the length in the data table 2 Set the binder so the back end of the binder is flush against the end of the table. This is your
ramp
Using the measuring tape, Place a piece of tape 50 cm and 100 cm from the end of the table where the ramp is located. This is what your set up should look like from the top
3
4 Place the ball at the highest point of the ramp
5 The timer should say, "Ready, Set, Go" and starts the stopwatch 6 The person holding the ball lets go of the ball
7 When the back of the ball reaches the 50 cm tape, the timer presses the "split" button
8 When the back of the ball reaches the 100 cm tape, the timer presses the "split" button again 9 When the back of the ball reaches the end of the table, the timer presses the "stop" button. 10 Make sure you have someone to catch the ball at the end of the table.
11 Record the Times in the data table
Time (sec) Trial 1
Time (sec) Trial 2
Average Time (sec)
Distance (cm)
0 0 0 0
50
100
Length of table
● Identify the:
○ Object that is in motion: ○ Reference Point:
Using the data above, create a Distance vs. Average Time graph and Insert it here
● It should be a line graph with the dots connected
● What you need to graph is the two columns on the right
1. Using the graph, calculate the average speed of the ball to travel across the entire table. Show all calculations below and in your science notebook.
C’s and D’s (Insert Names Here) complete Experiments 3 and
4
Experiment 3: Speed of a Falling Index Card
Materials:
● Online Stopwatch
● Tape Measure ● Index Card
Procedures:
1 Using a tape measure, measure the distance from the ground to the ceiling. Record it in the data table
2 Have another student hold the Index Card against the ceiling
3 When ready, the student holding the Index Cardshould say, "Ready, set, Go." and should drop the Index Card
4 The timer should start the watch when the Index Card is dropped 5 Stop the stopwatch when the Index Card hits the floor.
6 Repeat steps 2 -5 two more times.
7 Calculate the speed of the Index Card. EVERYONE MUST SHOW THEIR CALCULATION IN THEIR SCIENCE NOTEBOOK
Data Table:
Trials Time (sec) Distance (cm) Speed (cm/s)
1
2
3
Average
● Identify the:
○ Object that is in motion: ○ Reference Point:
EVERY GROUP MEMBER MUST SHOW ALL CALCULATIONS IN THEIR SCIENCE NOTEBOOK!!
● Using the average speed, how long would it take for the Index Card to travel: ○ 2,500 cm?
Experiment 4: Speed of a Battery
Materials:
● Online Stopwatch
● Tape Measure ● Battery ● Binder ● Tape
Procedures:
1 Measure the length of the Table. See the picture below. Record the length in the data table. 2 Set the binder so the back end of the binder is flush against the end of the table. This is your
ramp
Using the measuring tape, Place a piece of tape 50 cm and 100 cm from the end of the table where the ramp is located. This is what your set up should look like from the top
3
4 Place the battery at the highest point of the ramp
5 The timer should say, "Ready, Set, Go" and starts the stopwatch 6 The person holding the battery lets go of the battery
7 When the back of the battery reaches the 50 cm tape, the timer presses the "split" button 8 When the back of the battery reaches the 100 cm tape, the timer presses the "split" button
again
9 When the back of the battery reaches the end of the table, the timer presses the "stop" button. 10 Make sure you have someone to catch the battery at the end of the table.
Data Table:
Time (sec) Trial 1
Time (sec) Trial 2
Average Time (sec)
Distance (cm)
0 0 0 0
50
100
Length of table
● Identify the:
○ Object that is in motion: ○ Reference Point:
Using the data above, create a Distance vs. Average Time graph and Insert it here
● It should be a line graph with the dots connected
● What you need to graph is the two columns on the right
1. Using the graph, calculate the average speed of the battery. Show all calculations in your science notebook.
