forces & motion practicals

• investigating motion of everyday objects:

  equipment:

  • timer
  • ruler
  • ramp
  • toy car
• investigating motion of everyday objects:

  method:

  • set up ramp balanced on wooden block
  • mark an arbitrary starting point with masking tape
  • measure 30cm using ruler from start point and mark this with another piece of masking tape - this is end point
  • release toy car from start point and start timer
  • record time taken to reach end point
  • repeat 5 times and find average time
• investigating motion of everyday objects:

  calculation:

  • calculate average speed using speed = distance / time
• investigating motion of everyday objects:

  other notes:

  • to prevent human error, use a lightgate
  • repeat over range of distances to see how range of average speeds change
• investigating motion of everyday objects:

  safety:

  • to prevent injury to feet due to trolley falling, keep feet well away from end of ramp or place padded bucket underneath ramp
• investigating how extension varies with applied force:

  equipment:

  • clamp stand
  • 10x 10g masses
  • spring
  • ruler
  • g-clamp
• investigating how extension varies with applied force:

  method:

  • secure clamp stand to bench using g-clamp
  • attach spring to top clamp and ruler to bottom clamp
  • adjust ruler so it's vertical with it's zero level with the top of spring
  • measure and record unloaded spring length
  • hang 1x 10g mass onto spring and measure new length of spring (only to bottom of spring)
  • continue adding more weights and recording new lengths
• investigating how extension varies with applied force:

  analysis:

  • subtract new length from original length for each item
  • record results on graph: force on x-axis and extension on y-axis and draw suitable line/curve of best fit
• investigating how extension varies with applied force:

  accuracy:

  • keep ruler horizontal
• investigating how extension varies with applied force:

  hazards:

  • equipment falling off table - use g-clamp to secure clamp stand
  • sharp end of spring recoiling if spring breaks (damage to eye) - wear eye protection
  • masses falling to floor if spring breaks - keep feet well away to prevent injury