You are to complete this lab in teams of 2 or 3.The original experiment file is called PSLInvestigationRamps.xls and is in your machine's My Documents folder. Once you start saving data your group should save the file as

RampsLastnameLastnameLastname.xls

Station #____    Filename:________________________________________________

This lab is going to investigate and collect data from rolling carts up and down inclined planes using combinations of these modes of linear acceleration:

• Speeding up away from the detector
• Slowing down away from the detector
• Slowing down towards the detector
• Speeding up towards the detector

Trials

position-time graphs
velocity-time graphs

Once you have rolled your cart in such a manner as to recreate one of these position-time graphs on your screen, sketch its accompanying velocity-time graph in the space provided and save your data by saying YES to save data when you press "G for go."  Continue rolling your cart until all three shapes have been saved.

Next, go to each saved data sheet, rename the sheet for the trial it illustrates, and create new (xy) scatter plots of position-time and velocity-time.  Try and zoom in on the sections that are applicable; that is, do not include extraneous data on your graphs.

When saving your file, remember to make sure that the cursor is clicked on a cell, not a graph.   Otherwise you will get a saving error and will lose all of your data.

Acceleration Conclusions

 1. What is the generic shape (horizontal line, oblique line, parabola) during accelerated motion for a(n):

(a) position-time graph? ______________________

(b) velocity-time graph? _______________________

(c) acceleration-time graph? ____________________

2. Describe the two (2) types of activity which resulted in your position-time graph

(a) moves to a higher final vertical position

______________________________________________________________________________________

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(b) moves to a lower final vertical position

______________________________________________________________________________________

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3. Describe the two (2) types of activity which resulted in your velocity-time graph being drawn

(a) in quadrant I

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

(b) in quadrant IV

______________________________________________________________________________________

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4. Describe the two (2) types of activity which resulted in your velocity-time graph having a positive slope - - that is a>0.
In which quadrant (I or IV) -- circle one --would an accompanying acceleration vs time graph for these activities be drawn?

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

5. Describe the two (2) types of activity which resulted in your velocity-time graph having a negative slope - - that is a<0
In which quadrant (I or IV) -- circle one --would an accompanying acceleration vs time graph for these activities be drawn?

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

6. These graphs represent a related "set." Show how you either obtained or verified the requested information from the diagram which accompanies each question. Neatly, prove your answers on or directly under the diagrams provided. Color-coded responses would be helpful.

7. On the s-t graph provided, sketch the following "story." A turtle starts from a state of rest 1 meter from the side of a busy road. After waiting for 5 seconds and watching for on-coming traffic, the turtle decides that it is safe to cross the 6 meter-wide road. He takes 3 seconds to accelerate as he moves up to the edge of the road. Keeping his final speed constant, the turtle rushes across the road in 9 seconds. As soon as he successfully reaches the other side of the road, he takes 2 more seconds to quickly slow to a stop 1 meter off the road in the deep, cool grass.