Activity 4

Teacher Notes: Acceleration on an Inclined Track

PS-2826

Teacher Notes Activity 4: Acceleration on an Inclined Track

Time Estimates

Preparation: 15 min

Activity: 30 min

Objectives
Students will be able to

use a Motion Sensor to measure the motion of a cart as it moves up and down an inclined track.

use the Xplorer GLX to record and display the motion of the cart.

analyze the graphs of position and velocity versus time for the motion of the accelerating cart.

compare the slope of velocity versus time to the mean value of acceleration versus time.

Notes
Pushing the cart up the incline so that it does not get too close to the sensor may take some
practice before data collection is done.
It is important that students understand the following graphical representations:

Identification of the measurement and units of the vertical or y-axis.

Identification of the measurement and units of the horizontal or x-axis.

Meaning of the slope on the velocity-time graph: The physical representation of the slope can be
found by looking at the units of the vertical axis divided by the units of the horizontal axis. The units
are meters per second per second the units of acceleration.

Be certain that the motion sensor is set on the near (cart) setting. In
addition, the sensor must be aimed such that it points directly at its
target.
If the cart comes closer than 15 cm to the front of the Motion Sensor,
the sensor wont record accurate data.

Motion Sensor Setting

When students examine the Graph screen for velocity, they may
probably need to Scale and Move the axes before they select Linear Fit to find the slope.
When students examine the Graph screen for acceleration, they may need to Scale and Move the
axes. Challenge them to re-scale the y-axis so the maximum and minimum values are
approximately the same as shown in the Sample Data section below.

Introductory Physics with the Xplorer GLX

2006 PASCO

p. 13

Activity 4

Teacher Notes: Acceleration on an Inclined Track

PS-2826

Sample Data
The screenshots show the plots of position, velocity, and acceleration versus time for the cart
moving up and down the inclined track. The second screenshot shows the slope of the velocity
versus time (from the Linear Fit). The last screenshot shows the mean value of the selected
region of the acceleration.

Fig. 1: Position graph

Fig. 2: Velocity graph

Fig. 3 Acceleration graph

Introductory Physics with the Xplorer GLX

2006 PASCO

p. 14

Activity 4

Teacher Notes: Acceleration on an Inclined Track

PS-2826

Lab Report - Activity 4: Acceleration on an Inclined Track

Answers and Sample Data
Data
Sketch your graph of data from the Motion Sensor for position versus time and for velocity
versus time for the cart up and down the incline. Include labels and units for your y-axes and xaxes. (See the Sample Data screenshots.)

Introductory Physics with the Xplorer GLX

2006 PASCO

p. 15

Activity 4

Teacher Notes: Acceleration on an Inclined Track

PS-2826

Data Table
Item

Value

Acceleration (slope)

0.444 m/s2

Acceleration (mean)

0.4 m/s2

Questions
1.

Describe the position versus time plot of the Graph screen. Why does the distance begin at
a maximum and decrease as the cart moves up the inclined plane?

The position plot is parabolic and is a mirror image of the plot of position for an object that is
thrown upward and then falls downward. The distance begins at a maximum and then decreases
because the cart is decreasing its distance from the Motion Sensor as it goes up the inclined
plane. The Motion Sensor measures motion toward it as negative (decreasing distance).
2.

Describe the velocity versus time plot.

In the region that corresponds to the motion of the cart after it is pushed and before it stops at
the bottom, the velocity plot is linear with a positive slope.
3.

Describe the acceleration versus time plot of the Graph display.

In the region that corresponds to the motion of the cart after it is pushed and before it stops at
the bottom, the acceleration plot appears to be linear with almost zero slope.
4.

How does the acceleration determined in the plot of velocity compare to the mean value of
acceleration from the plot of acceleration?

Answers will vary. In the example, the acceleration determined in the plot of velocity (0.444
m/s2) is nearly the same as the mean value of acceleration from the plot of acceleration (0.4
m/s2).

Introductory Physics with the Xplorer GLX

2006 PASCO

p. 16