Inclined Plane Simulation
A Study of Motion on an Inclinehttp://www.hazelwood.k12.mo.us/~grichert/explore/dswmedia/incplane.htm
Name _______________________________________ Hour ____
Purpose: To investigate the motion of an object on a frictionless inclined surface.
Set up: Open the document listed above on your web browser or use this site: http://www.explorescience.com/ and Click on "Mechanics" and then the "Inclined Plane
Initial Control settings:
Angle = 30 degrees
Height = 9.5 m
Initial velocity = 0.0 m/s
Mass = 5 kg
Delta t = 0.03 s
Graph Setting: y-axis = x pos (m)
x-axis = time (s)Investigation #1: Angle and Horizontal Motion
The motion of the projectile will first be investigated in only the horizontal direction. (note: As it moves down the ramp the projectile moves horizontally and vertically at the same time.)
With the above initial control setting established, press the "GO" button. Watch the object as it slides down the ramp.
What type of motion does it have? _____________________
(constant speed, constant velocity, acceleration, deceleration, etc,)
Describe the motion illustrated on the graph. ____________________
________________________________________________________
This graph only illustrates motion in the _____________ direction.
Draw the graph data pattern:
Would you state the object is traveling equal distances in equal time intervals? _____________ Why or why not? ___________________
Change the graph to X-vel (m/s) on the y-axis. (This will graph the horizontal velocity vs time.) Press the "GO" button.
Draw the Graph pattern :
What does this graph indicate
About the horizontal speed of the
Object? ___________________
Is the slope of this line constant? ___________ Graph
What is the slope of a velocity-time graph equal to? ________
What would the acceleration-time graph look like? _____
Change the y-axis value to "x-accel. (m/s/s)".
Was your acceleration graph prediction correct? _______________
Draw the acceleration graph pattern:
What is the approximate acceleration
Of the object down the ramp?
____________ m/s2.
Predict what will happen the the horizontal acceleration as the angle of incline is increased. As the angle of incline increases the horizontal acceleration will …..
Complete the data table below using the same setting, but change only the angle of incline for the object.
Angle
Acceleration
Height
Initial V
Mass
(o)
(m/s2)
(m)
(m/s)
(kg)
10
9.5
0
5
20
9.5
0
5
30
9.5
0
5
40
9.5
0
5
45 9.5 0 5 50
9.5
0
5
60
9.5
0
5
70
9.5
0
5
80
9.5
0
5
Was your prediction correct? _______ The horizontal acceleration was observed to _____________ in value from 10 to 45 degrees and ________________ from 45 to 80 degrees.
Investigation #2: Angle and Vertical Motion
The motion of the projectile will first be investigated in only the Vertical direction. (note: As it moves down the ramp the projectile moves horizontally and vertically at the same time.)
Initial Control settings:
Angle = 30 degrees
Height = 9.5 m
Initial velocity = 0.0 m/s
Mass = 5 kg
Delta t = 0.03 s
Graph Setting: y-axis = y pos (m)
x-axis = time (s)With the initial control setting established, press the "GO" button. Watch the object as it slides down the ramp.
What type of motion does it have? _____________________
(constant speed, constant velocity, acceleration, deceleration, etc,)
Describe the motion illustrated on the graph. ____________________
________________________________________________________
This graph only illustrates motion
in the _____________ direction.
Draw the graph data pattern:
Would you state the object is traveling equal distances in equal time intervals? _____________ Why or why not? ___________________
Change the graph to y-vel (m/s) on the y-axis. (This will graph the vertical velocity vs time.) Press the "GO" button.
Draw the Graph pattern :
What does this graph indicate
About the vertical speed of the
Object? ___________________
Is the slope of this line constant? ___________ Graph
What is the slope of a velocity-time graph equal to? _______
Is it positive or negative? _____________
What would the acceleration-time graph look like? _____
Change the y-axis value to "y-accel. (m/s/s)".
Was your acceleration graph prediction correct? _______________
Draw the acceleration graph pattern:
What is the approximate acceleration
of the object down the ramp?
____________ m/s2.
Predict what will happen to the vertical acceleration as the angle of incline is increased. As the angle of incline increases the vertical acceleration will …..
Complete the data table below using the same setting, but change only the angle of incline for the object.
Angle
Vertical
Acceleration
Height
Initial V
Mass
(o)
(m/s2)
(m)
(m/s)
(kg)
10
9.5
0
5
20
9.5
0
5
30
9.5
0
5
40
9.5
0
5
45
9.5
0
5
50
9.5
0
5
60
9.5
0
5
70
9.5
0
5
80
9.5
0
5
Was your prediction correct? _______ The vertical acceleration was observed to _____________ with an increase in the angle of incline.
In Summary:
As an object slides down an inclined surface, it will accelerate in the vertical and horizontal direction. True or False?
As the angle of incline increases, the horizontal acceleration of the object will ________________from 0 to 45 degrees and then ______________ from 45 to 90 degrees, while the vertical acceleration will _________________________ from 0 to 90 degrees. The maximum horizontal acceleration is at __________ degrees and the maximum vertical acceleration is from _______ degrees.
The motion of an object down an incline is in _______ dimensions at the same time.
Investigation #3: Mass and Acceleration down an Incline.
Prediction: Which objects will have the greater acceleration down an inclined surface? Those will less or more mass? _______________ To test your prediction complete the table below.
In this investigation you will change only the mass of the object and determine the total time and acceleration in the vertical and horizontal direction.
Angle
Vertical
Acceleration
Horizontal Acceleration
Time
Height
Initial V
Mass
(o)
(m/s2)
(m/s2)
(s)
(m)
(m/s)
(kg)
30
9.5
0
2
30
9.5
0
8
30
9.5
0
12
30
9.5
0
20
What was the relationship between mass and acceleration on an inclined surface?
_________________________________________________________________
Was you prediction correct? _______
Investigation #4: Initial Velocity and Acceleration down an Incline.
Prediction: What is the directional notation (+ or -) when an object moves to the left or right? Left is___________right is _________
Up or down the ramp? Up is ________ down is _________
Initial Control settings:
Angle = 50 degrees
Height = 4.0 m
Initial velocity = -10.0 m/s
Mass = 5 kg
Delta t = 0.03 s
Graph Setting: y-axis = x pos (m)
x-axis = time (s)Press Go and observe the motion of the object on the incline.
Is it initially moving up or down the ramp? _______
Is it initially moving left or right on the ramp? _________
Using the x pos and y pos graphs determine the following:
Is up the ramp negative or positive? _________________________
Is left along the ramp negative or positive? ____________________
Describe the total motion of the projectile from the beginning to end of its motion on the ramp.
Why does it stop?_________________________________________
Why does it move down the ramp? ___________________________
Is the acceleration on the ramp constant for this motion? _________
Graph the vertical and horizontal acceleration.
The vertical acceleration is ______________ (include positive or negative, value and units.)
The horizontal acceleration is _____________ (include positive or negative, value and units.)
Find the resultant acceleration of these vertical and horizontal vectors using the pythagorean theorem; a2 + b2 = c2
What is the resultant acceleration? _____________________
The net acceleration on an incline is calculated as: a = g(sin q)
Calculate the net acceleration when g = -9.8 m/s2 and the angle is 50 degrees.
a = ___________________________
How do the two calculated accelerations compare? ______________
What is the % difference? _____________
Related Website: (as if this wasn't enough!) http://zebu.uoregon.edu/nsf/friction.html
Wrap-up:
Summarize the main facts about the motion of an object on a friction-less incline. (Include facts about the net acceleration, horizontal and vertical acceleration and the angle of incline. What is the mass relationship?)