Motion Assignment

Georgia Perimeter College

Getting Started:

  1. Read your course notes on Motion of Objects.
  2. Read relevant parts of your textbook, Chapter 1-5, for additional information.
  3. Open the web pages listed in the web links section of the course outlines to see the interactive java tutorials, animations, illustrations, and additional information on this topic.

Instructions:
  1. Click on this simulation: Analyzing Motion Using Diagrams.  Maximize the page so you can see the words along the right side.  Click on the icon to open the interactive diagram.  Wait for the applet to load completely.

    1. Next, click the button to read the "Objectives".

    2. Open and run simulation to learn how to describe the motion of an object using vector diagrams.  You will have to adjust the three sliding bar buttons on the right side of the interactive diagram.  Press RUN to make the car move.  If the car does not move, check to be sure that the velocity sliding bar (v) is not set at velocity = 0.  If so, RESET it to a different velocity and press RUN again.

    3. Record and submit your answers for Questions 1, 2, and 3.  The questions will tell you where to set the sliding bar for velocity, position of the car, and its acceleration.

     

  2. Click on this simulation: Analyzing Motion Using Graphs.  Maximize the page so you can see the words along the right side.  Click on the icon to open the interactive diagram.  Wait for the applet to load completely.

    1. Next, click the button to read the "Objectives".

    2. Open and run simulation to learn how to describe the motion of an object using graphs.  You will have to adjust the three sliding bar buttons on the right side of the interactive diagram.  Press RUN to make the car move.  If the car does not move, check to be sure that the velocity sliding bar (v) is not set at velocity = 0.  If so, RESET it to a different velocity and press RUN again.

    3. Record and submit your answers for Questions 1, 2, and 3.

3.  Projectile Motion Activity:  How fast can you roll a ball?

Procedure:

Step 1: Mark the position directly below the edge of the table. Carefully measure the vertical distance y the ball must drop from the edge of the table to the floor on the mark.

 

Vertical distance y = ____________________________ cm

 

Step 2: Roll the ball horizontally off the top of the table at any reasonable speed such the ball maintains contact with the table surface until it rolls off. Carefully mark the spot where the ball lands downrange on the floor. Measure the horizontal distance x the ball travels.

 

Horizontal distance, x = __________________________ cm

 

Step 3: Finding the time of flight t:

From the concept, the ball falls freely under the acceleration due to gravity in the vertical direction. The vertical distance fallen by the ball is given as:

y = (1/2) gt2

To find the time of flight, t, we use the rearranged form of this equation and substitute the measured value of vertical distance y from Step 1 and the known value of the gravitational acceleration g = 980 cm/s2.

 

t = sq. root (2y/g); i.e. 

 

Time of flight, t = _____________________ s

 

Step 4: Finding the horizontal speed of the ball v:

From the concept, the ball also moves horizontally with a constant speed as it falls vertically, in the same time t. The horizontal distance at constant speed x = v t. Therefore, find the horizontal speed of the ball by substituting the values of the horizontal distance x from Step 2 and the calculated time from Step 3.

 

v = x / t;  i.e.

 

Horizontal speed of the ball, v = ________________________ cm/s

 

Step 5: Repeat this experiment. Have your experiment partner roll the ball. Repeat the measurements and calculate the new speed of the ball.

 

Summing Up:

  1. Do these calculated horizontal speeds appear reasonable to you? Explain.
  2. Can you find the total speed of the ball when it hits the floor, in each instance?

 

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Content provided by Martin Okafor, GPC

Page created by Pamela J.W. Gore
Georgia Perimeter College,
Clarkston, GA

Page created December 20, 2006
Modified May 21, 2007 (Projectile motion added)