Lab: Motion with Constant Acceleration / Assignment: Reflect on the Lab

In the lab, you looked at speed-time graphs to determine the acceleration of the cart for each of the three fan speeds. What was the acceleration of the cart with Low fan speed? What was the acceleration of the cart with Medium fan speed? What was the acceleration of the cart with High fan speed?

18 / 24 / 32

Complete the statements using data from Table A of your Student Guide. The speed of the cart after 3 seconds of Low fan speed is The speed of the cart after 5 seconds of Medium fan speed is The speed of the cart after 2 seconds of High fan speed is

54, 120, 64 cm/s

Calculate the average velocity of the cart for each fan speed. Round your answers to the nearest tenth. The cart with Low fan speed has an average velocity of ________ cm/s. The cart with Medium fan speed has an average velocity of _______ cm/s. The cart with High fan speed has an average velocity of ________ cm/s.

67.6, 78.1, 89.3 cm/s

Use the drop-down menus to answer each question. Which line represents the movement of a cart with a constant acceleration? Which line represents the movement of a cart with a constant velocity? Which lines represents a cart with no velocity or acceleration?

A / C / B

The graph shows the speed of the cart with three different fan speeds. Which line represents the cart with the greatest acceleration? What is the fan speed for this cart? Which line represents the cart with the least acceleration? What is the fan speed for this cart?

C / High / A / Low

In this experiment, the _________ was intentionally manipulated. This was the independent variable. The dependent variable measured was the __________.

Fan speed / acceleration

In the lab, you performed a trial where the fan was turned off partway through the run. What did the graph for this trial look like? How does the slope of the graph change, and why?

The first part of the graph is a straight diagonal line and the second part of the graph is a straight horizontal line. The slope of the first part of the graph is positive, indicating that the cart increased in speed, and was therefore accelerating for the first four seconds. After the fourth second, the slope of the line is zero, indicating that the cart moved at a constant speed and did not accelerate any more because the fan was turned off.

The simulation kept track of the time and automatically recorded data on cart displacement and velocity. If the cart trials were run with a real cart and fan using meter sticks and stopwatches, how might the data compare? Check all that apply. There would be variables that would be hard to control, leading to less reliable data. The data would be just as valid if it were recorded with a stopwatch. Meter sticks may lack precision or may be read incorrectly. Real fans will always perform exactly the same as virtual fans. Human error in recording or plotting the data could be a factor.

There would be variables that would be hard to control, leading to less reliable data. Meter sticks may lack precision or may be read incorrectly. Human error in recording or plotting the data could be a factor.