What was the purpose of this lab?
I believe that the purpose of this lab was to allow us to physically see and demonstrate the difference between constant acceleration and constant velocity.
Distinguish between constant velocity and constant acceleration.
Constant velocity is a specific speed who continues going the same speed over the same amount of time. For example, if a ball is rolling on the ground at a constant velocity it may be going 5 inches every 3 seconds every 3 seconds. Constant acceleration is the constant change in velocity every m/s2.
For example if a ball is going down an inclined ramp at a constant acceleration, every1/ 2 second the speed will be increasing.
Describe in your own words how you conducted this lab.
In this lab, there were two physical parts involved. One was constant velocity where there was a flat surfaced table and a marble. When I released the marble, I made a chalk mark every 1/2 second where the ball was at. When I measured the marks, they were all covered in the same distance at the same amount of time. The other part was when I had to demonstrate constant acceleration. To do this, I made an inclined ramp with a marble. when I released the marble, just like the previous part, I made a chalk mark every half second where the marble was at that time. When I measured these marks, the distance increased every 1/2 second.
What did you find out in how constant velocity and constant acceleration compare?
Constant velocity and constant acceleration both cover an amount of space at a constant speed. But, in constant velocity, the distance stays the same every second, but in acceleration, the speed increases every second.
What formulas are used for constant acceleration and constant velocity.
The formula for constant acceleration is a = change in velocity / time
The formula for constant velocity is v = d / t
How do the lines in a graph for constant acceleration and constant velocity compare with each other?
The graph for constant acceleration does not have a straight line. The marks are somewhat in a close distance, but is not straight. The graph for Constant velocity is straight. The marks are an equal distance apart from each other.
How did you use the graph you created and the equation for a line to support your data?
The equation of each line that I received was y = #.####x + #.####
I used this equation to discover the acceleration and velocity of each part. Y = the y-axis and X = the x axis, so this was pretty easy to apply.
Three important things I learned.
1) Constant velocity and constant velocity ARE similar in speed, but NOT in distance.
2) How to apply known information into another source of information.
3) To try to be exact in all of your calculations because it can be the simplest error that can ruin all of your data.
Elise,
ReplyDeleteYour constant acceleration vs. constant velocity blog is good! You gave a very descriptive summary of the experience which I thought was great. I liked how you thoroughly described each event that occurred in the process. However, while this question was answered perfectly, I felt as if in some of the other responses, you were a little vague. Particularly in describing the difference between constant velocity and acceleration, you described what they are, but did not acknowledge the contrast in constant speed and constant velocity, a concept crucial for understanding how velocity works. Besides the fact that at times you should be more specific, I think that your blog is still really good! I really liked the first part of your answer to the most important things you learned. Constant acceleration and constant velocity are similar in speed but not in distance, this sentence is very easy to remember and simple. I also liked how you said you should focus more on personal skills in labs instead of attempting to relate everything back to physics. Good job!