R. Practical- Acceleration

• Resultant Force= Mass × Acceleration
• When investigating effect of force on acceleration what is dependent variable?


  Acceleration of object
• How could force acting on object be changed when investigating acceleration?

  Add extra weight on top of object
• What measurements are required to determine acceleration of an object?

  Velocity at each light gate and time taken to pass from one to the other
• Why do we use a sloping runway?

  Compensate for friction
• Advantages of light gate?

  1. No reaction time error
  2. Results taken automatically
• How could investigation be improved to reduce effecf of random errors?

  Do repeats and calculate average
• Possible variables when investigating accelerate of trolley

  1. Mass of trolley
  2. Force applied to trolley
  3. Gradient of ramp
  4. Material of ramp
• Why is it important to not push trolley when you release it?

  So same force is applied to each trolley
• How can acceleration be calculated using velocity and time?

  Determine change in velocity between two light gates and divide by time
• How can steepness of ramp be changed?

  Add blocks under ramp to vary height
• 1. Set up equipment as shown in the diagram and connect 2 light gates to the data logger.
  2. Add a 1N weight to the trolley and release it.
  3. Light gates A and B will determine the velocity at each point and use this to calculate the acceleration between the 2 points.
  4. Record the acceleration when 1N is added.
  5. Repeat by adding more weights to the trolley at 1N intervals.