Everything Science Grade 10

21.6 CHAPTER 21. MOTION IN ONE DIMENSION

General experiment: Motion at constant velocity

Aim:

To measure the position and time during motion at constant velocity and determine

the average velocity as the gradient of a “Position vs. Time” graph.

Apparatus:

A battery operated toy car, stopwatch, meter stick or measuring tape.

Method:

1. Work with a friend. Copy the table below into your workbook.

2. Complete the table by timing the car as it travels each distance.

3. Time the car twice for each distance and take the average value as your ac-

cepted time.

4. Use the distance and average time values to plot a graph of “Distance vs.

Time”onto graph paper. Stick the graph paper into your workbook. (Remem-

ber that “A vs. B” always means “y vs. x”).

5. Insert all axis labels and units onto your graph.

6. Draw the best straight line through your data points.

7. Find the gradient of the straight line. This is the average velocity.

Results:

Distance (m)

Time (s)

1 2 Ave.

0

0,5

1,0

1,5

2,0

2,5

3,0

Conclusions:

Answer the following questions in your workbook:

1. Did the car travel with a constant velocity?

412 Physics: Mechanics